| Step |
Comments |
| Introduction |
- Introduce yourself and anyone else joining, state your role, and who your supervisor is
- Confirm patient number in case connection fails
- Confirm if any family members or others are present to assist with the encounter
|
| Patient ID |
- Confirm the patient ID in at least two ways.
- In a video visit they can show you a piece of ID (ideally health card), and in a telephone visit ask for date of birth and address
|
| Location and privacy |
- Make sure both parties are in a private and quiet place and in Ontario
- Ensure your background and camera field of view does not show any confidential information or breach privacy for you or your patient
- Communicate to patient that you are calling from a private space without others listening and that they have the right to end the call at anytime
|
| Communication |
- Speak clearly, but not too loudly
- Ensure patient has heard you, check for comprehension during interview and at end
- When listening, mute your microphone
- Try to maintain eye contact as much as possible; when looking down, explain what you are doing
(“I am looking down to review the notes in front of me and make notes”)
- Remember to ask about social history which may help to build rapport with your patients
|
| Clinical stability |
- Attend to signs that patient is unwell and needs an in-person assessment
- If immediate safety concerns arise, do not hang up, immediately involve your supervisor and consider calling 911
|
| Documenting physical exam findings |
There are some components that can be reasonably documented in virtual assessments. Examples:
- Patient reports height and weight
- Patient is speaking in 2-3 word sentences and sounds breathless
- Patient does not appear cyanotic
|
Virtual Care Help 