The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has approved and endorsed the use of video or phone medical appointments as a measure to facilitate physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ontario Hospital Association, the Ontario Medical Association and other healthcare associations are working together to develop tools to allow the connection of patients with their healthcare providers.
The Ministry of Health has endorsed virtual care as effective for screening patients, gathering patient history including travel and exposure details, assessing symptom severity and treatment options, monitoring progress and checking in on patients in isolation, treat clinically appropriate conditions that may not require an in-person visit, and assist those who are experiencing mental health challenges.
Some medical assessors operating in the personal injury sphere such as AssessMed are offering select assessments by videoconference, including: full psychological and psychiatric assessments, virtual neurological assessments, and file reviews with a virtual interview for orthopaedic and physiatry experts.
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Author
Hamish Mills-McEwan
Juris Doctor (J.D.), Law
Associate Lawyer
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