![\"Convenience\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Convenience.jpg\")
<\/div>\nconvenience and comfort:<\/strong> meet virtually with your health-care provider from your home, work, or any place you choose<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n time savings:<\/strong> no need to travel to a hospital or health centre for your appointments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n privacy and security:<\/strong> connect securely through Zoom using your MyChart account.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n quality care:<\/strong> receive the same high-quality care that you expect from an in-person appointment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Ottawa Hospital provides virtual care appointments in any of the following ways:<\/p>\n Your health-care provider may assign one kind of virtual care to you. If it does not meet your needs, please talk to them about other options.<\/p>\n This survey was launched in October 2020 and represents responses from 180 total patients in the Internal Medicine program at the Riverside and General campuses, and the Bariatric program at the Civic Campus.<\/p>\n If your appointment is appropriate for virtual care, the clinic or doctor\u2019s office will ask you if you would like to have the appointment via video or telephone.<\/p>\n If you choose a telephone call, the booking clerk or doctor\u2019s office will tell you when your doctor will call you. If you choose a video appointment, the booking clerk will also explain how to access the link and launch the appointment.<\/p>\n Yes, The Ottawa Hospital\u2019s Direct-to-Patient video appointments on MyChart are provided through a special Zoom health-care license that was purchased by The Ottawa Hospital and integrated with our electronic health information system (Epic).<\/p>\n The Epic-Zoom platform incorporates strong encryption, security and privacy controls to ensure your appointments are private and protected. The data are also encrypted as an added layer of security protection.<\/p>\n The appointment platform is certified, and the technology meets the health-care industry standards for Canada\u2019s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). All Personal Health Information (PHI) is stored and maintained in Ontario. Additionally, Zoom\u2019s Health Information Technology (HIT) team continually reviews the standards to ensure secure, safe video appointments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Ottawa Hospital is one of a number of hospitals across Canada participating in a clinical trial testing whether enhanced virtual care can help patients recovering at home after emergency surgery. Half of the patients in the trial receive regular care, while the other half receive an in-home monitoring kit with devices to measure their weight, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, breathing rate, temperature and pulse. The hope is that this enhanced virtual care can reduce complications and keep these patients out of hospital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Patients can keep their information private and secure by:<\/p>\n No. If you do not want to use virtual care, talk to your health-care provider about other options. Your health-care provider may be able to see you in person or refer you to another provider who can. If you\u2019re uncomfortable with virtual appointments, please let your doctor or other member of your care team know how you feel. Many patients who were not comfortable at first, soon realize they enjoy the convenience and ease of seeing their care team through virtual appointments.<\/p>\n Health-care providers at The Ottawa Hospital complete about 5,000 virtual video visits and 16,000 phone visits per month.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Many health concerns can be addressed in a virtual appointment. If your doctor or other member of your health care team determines you need to be seen in person, they will arrange for you to visit their office or another clinic.<\/p>\n![\"Time](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Time-Saving.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"Safety](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Security-and-Privacy.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"Quality](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Quality-Care.jpg\")
<\/div>\nHow does The Ottawa Hospital provide virtual care?<\/h3>\n
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![\"92%](\"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Survey-results-EN.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow is a Direct-to-Patient video appointment booked with my health-care provider?<\/h3>\n
Are video appointments safe and secure?<\/h3>\n
How can I protect my privacy during a virtual appointment?<\/h3>\n
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Do I have to use virtual care?<\/h3>\n
![\"Older](\"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Online_Appointment_FAQ_For_Patients_And_Families_The_Ottawa_Hospital.jpg\")
What if I need to see my health-care provider in person?<\/h3>\n
How do I make the most of my next online appointment?<\/h3>\n