Virtual doctor visits being tested in Waterloo Region

WATERLOO REGION — Soon some patients in Waterloo Region will be able to have virtual visits with their doctor.

The one-year pilot project will be rolled out to upward of 100 doctors and nurse practitioners across Waterloo and Wellington regions early next year by the eHealth Centre of Excellence, with the hope of expanding it later to more practices.

“It’s going to be something that’s more convenient for patients,” said Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia, director of the eHealth Centre of Excellence.

And it will be good for the health-care system, too, he said.

“This would lead to more efficient use of resources in our system.”

While improving the patient and provider experience, it will also create capacity in the system by boosting efficiencies.

“It should allow more people to be seen in a timely way,” Alarakhia said.

The Waterloo-based eHealth Centre of Excellence, in partnership with the Ontario Telemedicine Network, was awarded funding for the project from the provincial grant-funding program REACH (Resources for Evaluating, Adopting and Capitalizing on Innovative Healthcare Technology). The plan is to launch in January or February, and then over the year the platform will be honed based on feedback.

“We’ve got a base platform, but we know it’s not perfect,” Alarakhia said.

Secure messaging, video conferencing and audio through the app or website will give patients and doctors new ways to connect.

Patients who are interested in using the new technology at practices in the trial will need to register.

Alarakhia said virtual visits will help break down barriers to health care, ensuring more equitable access.

Long drives for an in-person appointment could be avoided, along with taking time off work to get into see the doctor.

Patients with mobility or transportation issues will also be helped.

Health care providers could also quickly check in with patients, such as those with depression who are isolated.

“It offers lots of great opportunities,” Alarakhia said.

The centre was founded in spring 2014, the formalization of several years of digital health projects at the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team in Kitchener.

Other digital health tools the centre has launched include an electronic referral system now available for all primary care providers in the region, and a consultation system that allows primary care providers to electronically send a question to a specialist. It is developing a decision-support tool for family doctors to help decrease opioid use and doses.

Alarakhia believes the medical field has turned the corner on adopting electronic tools to streamline health care.

“We’ve got the momentum now.”