Ontario health officials tell doctors to see patients in person rather than virtually
CBC
The Ontario government is urging all doctors to care for patients in person rather than virtually, saying it's now safe given high COVID-19 vaccination rates and readily available personal protective equipment.
In a letter to Ontario physicians Wednesday, Chief Medical of Health Dr. Kieran Moore, deputy health minister Patrick Dicerni and College of Physicians and Surgeons CEO Nancy Whitemore say they've increasingly been hearing complaints about offices not providing in-person care.
"There are limits to what can be done virtually and the standard of care is often difficult to meet in a virtual-care environment," the letter says.
While it is ultimately up to physicians to determine what type of appointment is needed, in-person care is necessary to make diagnoses and decide treatments and is what's expected, it continues.
"There are many patients for whom the standard of care cannot be met in a solely virtual care environment," the letter reads.
This month, CBC News reported that Toronto parents were struggling to get in-patient appointments with their child's pediatricians, even after testing negative for COVID-19. They were instead referred to SickKids emergency department or St. Joseph's Just For Kids Clinic for what turned out to be illnesses like a stomach bug or ear infection.
Both hospitals have reported a surge in patients with relatively minor illnesses this summer and fall. A spokesperson with SickKids told CBC News that August, usually its quietest month, was the busiest so far this year, seeing close to 6,000 patients. Parents reported wait times of up to 10 hours.