Virtual care appointments hit over 500,000 in 14 months
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in many ways; one of the most significant changes for health-care providers has been the ability to meet with their patients virtually.
Rolled out a few months before the pandemic, the use of a platform called Pexip exploded. Pexip is a secure and easy-to-use video-conferencing tool that has been approved by Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), and enables each health-care provider with an account to connect securely and directly to other health-care providers and to patients. Patients are able to install the free Pexip app on their tablet or smartphones or use the web-browser version from a laptop or desktop computer. It allows providers to meet with patients face-to-face, but virtually.
Between March of 2020 and May of 2021, more than 3,400 health-care providers – physicians as well as other allied health-care professionals -- established Pexip accounts and, in the same time span, conducted 558,000 virtual appointments using the system.
That’s an impressive number, especially as many health professionals have chosen to do consultations over the phone instead of over Pexip.
“We have learned quite a lot, and this has definitely increased engagement and interest in the value and ability to utilize video in patient care,” said Dr. Vern Behl, senior medical information officer with SHA’s Digital Health. “There are a number of physicians who have used the technology but the bulk of those video consults are from allied health professionals, who have reported great experiences.”
Many rural patients have liked the video or phone appointment option offered during the pandemic because they often had to travel vast distances to see a physician.
“Phone call appointments are much more convenient for many rural residents that have to travel to see their primary care provider,” said Kevin Wasko, physician executive with SHA Integrated Rural Health.
The procurement of a new provincial clinical video conferencing solution is underway to support the Virtual Care, Connected Care, and Health Network strategies, among others. “We expect to see both utilization and user satisfaction with video visits increase,” Behl noted.
Added Wasko, “Virtual care certainly has had a role during the pandemic and for many there is no going back to the old way. While in person visits are often necessary, virtual care will remain a good option for follow up or where there are established relationships between the provider and the patient.”