Ontario creates standard for virtual visits

TORONTO – Ontario Health has established a provincial standard and launched a verification process for virtual care solutions. The standard was created to assist health service providers in the selection of virtual care solutions appropriate for clinical use.

According to the organization’s web site, Ontario Health developed provincial standards for virtual visits – including video and secure messaging – in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and OntarioMD.

“The purpose for setting these standards is to enable more choice for providers in selecting the virtual care solution that best meets their care delivery needs, while ensuring clinical encounters are secure and patient privacy is protected,” the site says.

“Ontario Health’s provincial standards for virtual visit solutions are intended to ensure virtual care services are delivered using safe, secure, and interoperable platforms. These were developed in consultation with health care organizations and clinicians across the province.”

Vendor solutions that have completed a successful verification for video and secure messaging include:

• aTouchAway, from Aetonix Solutions
• Adracare, from Adracare, Inc.
• OnCall Health, from OnCall Health Inc.
• Maple, from Maple Corp.

For each solution, the vendor has attested to meeting mandatory privacy, security and technical requirements. Ontario Health does not endorse any technological solution or service models and advises healthcare providers and organizations to conduct their own due diligence to determine that any solution procured meets their own organizational requirements and program needs.

“Verification of our virtual care platform means healthcare systems and enterprises in Ontario can now benefit from the branded and configurable solution that leaders in the private sector have been using for years,” said Nicholas Chepesiuk (pictured), CEO of OnCall Health.

“Clients can take comfort knowing that our virtual care platform is aligned with the province’s Virtual Visits Solution standard and meets all of the provincial privacy, security, interoperability, and technical requirements. Our team is looking forward to working with Ontario’s physicians, hospitals, Family Health Teams (FHTs), Ontario Health Teams (OHTs), and Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) that want to launch and grow their own branded virtual care programs with a verified vendor,” he added.