What is telemedicine
and how does it work?
Using technology to provide patient care or to share health information
Telemedicine is exciting but has many advantages and potential pitfalls. It requires both health care providers and patients to change the way that they have traditionally interacted with the health care system.
Telemedicine Policies
When using telemedicine our providers must follow the policies from the College and Physicians of Ontario CPSO and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to ensure you receive the best care. The CPSO’s Telemedicine policy explains how your doctor should use telemedicine to provide care.
Privacy with electronic communications
We do our best to ensure that your personal health information during virtual care visits and electronic communications is private and secure. But no electronic tools (such as audio, video, email, text) are ever completely secure. There is an increased security risk that your health information may be intercepted or disclosed to third parties when using such electronic communications tools.
The FMTU has started using Medeo (secure patient messaging) , to enhance the delivery of virtual care between our clinical staff and our patients. With a Medeo account, our physicians and nurses will be able to communicate with our patients in a safe, secure, and confidential manner. Please ask for more details.
Help us keep your information safe and secure.
- Arrange for yourself to be in a quiet, private environment with adequate connection during your virtual care appointment.
- Understand that electronic communications (such as audio, video, email, text) you receive are not secure in the same way as a private appointment in an exam room.
- Use a private computer/device (i.e., not an employer’s or third party’s computer/device), secure accounts, and a secure internet connection. For example, a personal and encrypted email account is more secure than an unencrypted email account, and Internet on your home network will be more secure than an open guest Wi-Fi connection.
- You should also understand that virtual care is not a substitute for in-person assessment with certain health conditions or a substitute for going to an Emergency Department for urgent care.
If you are concerned about using electronic communications for your care, you can ask our office to attempt to arrange a potential alternative.