COVID-19: Providing Virtual Patient Care During A Pandemic

We have all been mandated to engage in social distancing and self isolation in order to prevent the further spread of Covid-19, and this includes physicians and other health care providers. The Chief Medical Officer of Health has ordered that all non-essential and elective services provided by regulated health professionals be reduced to minimal levels. This order is fully supported by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) evidenced by the fact that the CPSO has directed physicians to use their professional judgment to ensure that they abide by this order. This in turn has impacted the way in which health care services are provided to patients. The CPSO has instructed physicians to adopt virtual care into their practice, where appropriate, in order to continue to provide their patients with access to health care while avoiding potential exposure to Covid-19.