It’s clear that Canadian wait times must be addressed in order to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. If Canadians are disincentivized to seek medical attention in healthcare facilities, it’s important to consider an alternative: providing accessible medical care virtually . Telehealth, or the practice of delivering health-related services via telecommunications and virtual technology, is a booming digital health technology with the potential to solve excessive wait times. The most common types of telehealth and telehealth apps come equipped with secure video conferencing and instant messaging features. Telehealth—often used interchangeably with telemedicine and virtual care—makes it easier for patients to connect with providers when and where they need care, and receive appropriate and timely care. 

Telehealth gives healthcare professionals and organizations the capability to offer medical care to more patients with fewer logistical efforts. A Harvard Medical School study estimated that, on average, a typical visit to a doctor takes over two hours—of which only 20 minutes are spent face-to-face with the physician—and costs the patient $43 in lost time. Telehealth offers a convenient and accessible solution to patients. By using secure video conferencing, you can connect with your physician in the comfort of your home or office. Additionally, medical providers can utilize telehealth to support their patients in between visits.

Monitoring patients in between appointments and shortening wait times are crucial in treating acute conditions before they turn into chronic diseases (CDs). CDs are a heavy burden for the Canadian healthcare system. The Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada reports that CDs cost the Canadian economy “$190 billion annually, with $122 billion in indirect income and productivity losses, and $68 billion in direct healthcare costs.” As life expectancy increases, these diseases are expected to become more prevalent and lead to longer wait times, especially in hospitals. Proactive care through telehealth can reduce unnecessary medical appointments and the economic burden of CDs. 

Telehealth platforms also offer healthcare professionals and organizations practice management tools to further optimize their practices and reduce patient registration and discharge times. Efficient scheduling, digital intake and registration features can streamline the process of visiting your physician. Pre-registration tools, like patient-provider matching, lead to patients spending more time with the right physicians, instead of filling out paperwork to find the provider that’s right for them, and potentially seeing the wrong one. Having a centralized platform for pre-consult, virtual appointment, and post-consult activities, is essential in reducing wait times for patients who require an in-person appointment with their doctor. 

Canadian wait times are representative of a system that requires change. Some might even call for an overhaul. As with many nationalized systems, change of that grandeur can take decades. Unfortunately, the Canadian health system doesn’t have the luxury of time. Integrating telehealth—ideally with other telehealth apps and digital health tools—into the nationalized system can reduce wait times, and, as a result, improve patient outcomes. Discover how OnCall is helping connect healthcare infrastructure with our API by reading our blog, Demystifying APIs.