Ontario's top doctor urges physicians resume in-person care, reduce virtual appointments
Ontario’s top health officials are asking doctors in the province to increase the volume of patients they see in-person, after months of virtual appointments prompted by pandemic safety measures.
At the onset of the pandemic, physicians were encouraged to shift to a virtual approach. “However, the pressures that led to prioritizing the adoption of virtual care over in-person care (e.g., lack of PPE, severity of the pandemic) have now diminished,” the officials said.
The directive to move back to in-person care was stated in a letter sent to Ontario physicians on Wednesday, on joint behalf of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, along with the Ministry of Health and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
While the letter acknowledges that many physicians are working towards “striking the right balance” between virtual and in-person care, it states that the availability of virtual appointments “should no longer pose a barrier to in-person practice.”
“Collectively we are increasingly hearing about physicians’ offices that are not providing in-person care,” the letter states.
The group of top health officials said there are limits to what can be accomplished virtually. While they did not outline a list of appointments that should be done in-person, they said physical assessments are necessary in order to make a diagnosis or treatment decision.
“There are many patients for whom the standard of care cannot be met in a solely virtual care environment.”
At Moore’s weekly COVID-19 update he clarified that the letter was “purely a recommendation” and that he didn’t believe there were any consequences outlined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for doctors who do not follow suit.
Moore pointed to his personal experience as a family physician as a testament to the importance of in-person care.
“I am concerned of a backlog of patients that have not had a physical exam, and have not had their heart or lungs listened to….that haven't had their blood pressure physically checked, that haven't been able to be immunized or had any basic cancer screening,” Moore said.
He said he hopes in the coming year, that backlog will be addressed.
Moore said the Ministry of Health will be monitoring this shift back to in-person care through the province’s health care billing system, which distinguishes virtual and in-person appointments.
Ontario health officials issued their statement to physicians on the same day the province logged its lowest case count since the beginning of August.
The province’s rolling seven-day average has been trending downward. On Thursday, the province logged its lowest positivity rate since August, now standing at 476, down from 565 a week ago.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.