Virtual Care/Telehealth
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What is virtual care?
“Any interaction between patients and members of their circle of care that occurs remotely, using any form of communication or information technology, with the goal of facilitating or enhancing the quality and effectiveness of patient care.”
Vitalité Health Network currently provides virtual health care services—such as telehealth—through virtual visits and telephone follow-ups.
Here are some of the benefits of a virtual consultation, also commonly known as telehealth
- Access to care
- Flexibility and convenience of receiving care at home or at a health care facility in your community
- Reduced travel and associated time and costs
- Lower risk of exposure to infectious diseases
- Access to specialists for emergency programs
- Inclusion of members of the circle of care, even if they are not physically present
Limitations of virtual consultations
- Virtual consultations are not suitable for all clinical situations. The opinion of a specialist or health professional must be considered. For example, when physical examinations require a specialist, or when patients need accompaniment to undergo certain tests that are not available in some facilities, in-person visits are essential. This also applies to consultations for serious or urgent health concerns.
- Virtual consultations are limited by factors such as resource availability, the presence of appropriate support, technological proficiency, and the quality of the Internet connection.
Here are a few examples of clinics or services within Vitalité Health Network that currently offer virtual consultations
- TeleStroke at the Emergency
- Tele-psychiatry at the Emergency
- Consultations with a psychiatrist
- Tele-oncology
- Tele-respirology
- Tele-nephrology
- Tele-microbiology
- Mental health follow-ups
- Group sessions with the Bariatric Clinic
Are virtual consultations safe?
Oui, la technologie de soins virtuels ou les plateformes virtuelles utilisées par le Réseau ont été évaluées pour assurer qu’elles sont sûres, sécurisées et protègent vos renseignements personnels et vos renseignements personnels sur la santé.
How does a virtual consultation at Vitalité Health Network work?
In general, telehealth virtual consultations offered by the Network are scheduled in advance. Sessions can take place in your own home, using your own devices, or at one of our facilities. All requests are initiated by the consulting health professionals. **If you are interested in a virtual consultation, talk to your health professional.**
Before the consultation: The clinic offering the virtual consultation will contact you to provide you with useful information, such as appointment details (date, time, location, etc.) and instructions on how to attend (use of a personal device or visit to one of our facilities). If the consultation takes place using one of your devices, you will receive an email with a link to join the consultation.
Thirty minutes before a consultation on one of your devices: Make sure you have a stable Internet connection and a working device (computer, tablet, or phone). A few minutes before the scheduled time, log in to the platform using the link you received from your health care provider.
Forty-five minutes before a consultation at one of Vitalité Health Network’s facilities: Follow the instructions provided by your health care provider. In general, they will have told you whether to go to the registration desk or directly to the department where your virtual consultation will take place. If you have any questions, please contact the information desk. Once you have registered, a staff member will show you to the videoconferencing room and explain how the equipment works.
Start of the consultation: You may have to wait for the health professional to join the consultation. Once connected, the physician or specialist will greet you and verify your identity.
How will the virtual consultation be conducted? The consultation will be similar to an in-person consultation. You will discuss your symptoms, medical history, and concerns. The health professional will ask you questions to better understand your condition.
At the end of the consultation, the health professional will provide you with recommendations, prescriptions, or instructions for additional tests if necessary.
You may receive instructions for a follow-up consultation, either virtually or in person, depending on the assessment of your physician or health professional.
Material and equipment required for the patient and their family during virtual sessions
- Smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer with a camera and microphone
- High-speed Internet/Wi-Fi connection
- Internet browser such as Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge or Firefox when using a desktop or laptop
- Pen and paper to take notes
Your rights and responsibilities
- Ensure that the virtual session takes place in a private location, for both you and the practitioner. Using a phone or other portable device in public may compromise the confidentiality of your information. During the session, make sure the volume is set at an appropriate but discreet level.
- You may wish to have a family member or caregiver present during the virtual consultation. If so, it is important to inform the practitioner in the room.
- If you prefer an in-person consultation, you must inform your health care provider immediately.
- If you have any questions, need to reschedule your virtual consultation, or need help resolving technical difficulties during your virtual consultation, please contact your health care provider by phone.
- You are responsible for all charges associated with the use of your Internet data. If you are using data on a mobile device (instead of a Wi-Fi connection), please be aware that video streams may require significant data usage.
- If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
You may be offered a virtual appointment instead of an in-person appointment.
This is an appointment that uses technology to connect you with your health care provider using a smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer equipped with a webcam or from one of the videoconference rooms in one of our health facilities. Once connected, you can see and hear your health care provider, and they can see and hear you.
A virtual appointment can be very convenient, as it saves you from having to travel. This can reduce the time and expense of traveling to an in-person appointment.
No. Virtual appointments are not suitable for all situations. It is important to talk with your health care provider about the type of appointment that best suits your needs and situation.
Yes. Before scheduling or conducting the virtual appointment, your healthcare provider will explain what a virtual appointment entails and ask for your verbal consent. Note: For children, the health care provider will ask for the consent of the parent(s) or guardian(s).
You may not feel comfortable with this option. Other options are available. Your health care provider will work with you to find the type of appointment that is right for you.
No. There is no cost for a virtual care appointment. If you are attending from your home, you will need a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer with a webcam, as well as an Internet browser and an Internet or Wi-Fi connection.
Yes. New Brunswick's virtual care technology has been evaluated to ensure that it is safe, secure, and private, and that it protects your personal information and personal health information.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact your health care provider.
For more information, please contact your health care provider.
