What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine uses video cameras and monitors to connect you to specialists who are not located near you, reducing the need to travel to receive care. You will be able to see, hear, and talk to a doctor or other health care professional.
How does a telemedicine clinical visit work?
A telemedicine appointment is just like a regular appointment; only the specialist you will be speaking with and seeing is on a monitor.
Before you arrive, the specialist you are going to see will already have relevant information about you to support your telemedicine visit. However, you may be asked to bring test results, medications, or x-ray reports with you. A nurse who has been trained in telemedicine will be with you during your visit. The videoconference connection is made with the specialist at a different location and then the visit begins.
The nurse with you may assist with the examination, using tele-diagnostic equipment like a digital stethoscope or patient examination camera. The specialist on the monitor can hear your heartbeat and breath sounds and look at certain areas of your body with the patient examination camera as if he were sitting in the same room.
Is there a cost for a telemedicine appointment?
No. A telemedicine appointment is available to anyone with a valid Ontario Health Card.
Is telemedicine private?
Just like a regular doctor’s appointment, your telemedicine visit will be private and confidential. It can only be seen and heard by the health care professionals involved.
Call 613-936-0306 ext 108 for information.
