Virtual Care

Virtual Care connects patients to healthcare providers through the use of technology. This includes video appointments, remote monitoring of patient data, and allowing care teams or family members across the Island to connect and support the patient journey.

Island Health is actively working with clinicians to support the delivery of services using Virtual Care. Below, clinicians can learn more about available virtual care tools that can be implemented into their practices, as well as a few of the over 125 programs and services that are currently utilizing virtual care.

COVID-19 & Influenza Discharge Support

Refer adult patients with COVID-19 or Influenza Symptoms for monitoring.

Community Virtual Care’s Covid-19 and Influenza Monitoring program offers free 1:1 RN support using remote patient monitoring, virtual visits and the phone to support patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 or Influenza symptoms.

  • No PCP required.
  • Appropriate for frail elders, immunocompromised patients, and those with chronic disease.

To make a referral, call Community Access:

  • South Island 250-388-2273 or toll-free 1-888-533-2273
  • Central Island 250-739-5749 or toll free 1-877-734-4101
  • North Island 250-331-8570 or toll free 1-866-928-4988

Virtual Care Tools

BC Virtual Visit

BC Virtual Visit (BCVV) is a secure video solution that enables visits with a healthcare provider from the comfort of home using a personal smartphone, tablet or computer. It can be tailored to support clinical workflows and scheduling of virtual visits. This service is actively used by Island Health ambulatory services, community health services, and primary and urgent care services.

If your program is already using BC Virtual Visit and you wish to request an account, please have a manager or designate complete the Island Health BC Virtual Visit Access and Updates form.

Zoom for Healthcare

Zoom for Healthcare is a secure, web-based video conferencing tool approved for the delivery of virtual care at Island Health. It can be used for large education sessions and supports functionalities such as annotations, polls, and breakout rooms within the call.

Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is a tool that allows clinicians to provide remote support to eligible patients through regular monitoring and education. The monitoring component of the program allows clinical staff to safely and effectively observe patient biometrics, symptoms, and overall wellbeing through virtual technologies. Patients are provided with biometric devices (such as a blood pressure cuff, oximeter and scale) and use a program-provided tablet or personal device in their own home to submit interview responses on a personalized schedule that can then be reviewed by clinic staff.

For patients who are being monitored, their data is recorded within the monitoring application. This patient-driven data can be trended on a variety of graphs, including a read-only view accessible to Cerner users in PowerChart on the RPM MPage, to infer care plans or intervention. Education can be customized based on submission data to support the patient in becoming more informed of their health and to improve their self- or co-management abilities.

Telehealth (facility-based virtual care)

Telehealth provides dedicated virtual visit equipment in over 75 rooms located across the Island. Telehealth can support patients who do not have reliable internet or a device, are not comfortable with technology, or are admitted at an Island Health facility.

Virtual Interpreting Services

Virtual Interpreting Services provide access to professional, medically trained interpreters via video connection. Healthcare providers at Island Health can improve the quality and delivery of care to our patients by making use of interpreting services from the Provincial Language Service (PLS) with more than 240 languages available, including American Sign Language (ASL). Healthcare providers have two ways of adding interpreters into their care conversations: through the use of Video Remote Interpreting (which uses a device such as an iPhone or iPad to connect virtually with an interpreter, on-demand), as well as requesting access to the PLS booking portal, which allows clinics to pre-book interpreters to join virtual visits.

For more information, or to request the use of either of these virtual interpreter services in your

program area, please navigate to the Interpreting Services intranet page.

Call4care (Community Call Bell)

Call4care is a 2 way voice communication tool that uses a pendant or watch worn by the patient that is connected to the cellular network.  The device can be configured to support on demand communications between patients in the community and their care teams.  Call4care can initiate a call automatically if a fall has been detected by the device and displays geolocation.  Future deployment could include geofencing for patient populations at risk of wandering as well as other types of monitoring.

Examples of Programs Using Virtual Care

Community Virtual Care (CVC)

Community Virtual Care is a free program that uses remote patient monitoring, virtual visits and the telephone to support clients to self-manage their condition(s) from the comfort of their home.

  • 1:1 support from registered nurses who monitor client-reported biometrics and symptoms
  • Easy-to-use monitoring equipment is loaned at not cost
  • Clients are on-boarded within 2 weeks of referral (sooner for COVID-19, heat-related illness and smoke inhalation)
  • The CVC team consists of registered nurses, clinical pharmacists, social workers and administrative support staff

Conditions
Community Virtual Care supports clients with the following conditions:

  • CKD, COPD, Heart failure, Diabetes, Hypertension 
  • COVID-19, Influenza, Heat-related illness, Wildfire smoke inhalation
  • Clients with a progressive, life-limiting, or palliative diagnosis 
  • The CVC Caregiver Program supports caregivers to strengthen emotional well-being and coping skills.

Referrals

All referrals are through Community Access. Clients can self refer.

  • South Island: (250) 388-2273 or toll-free 1 (888) 533-2273
  • Central Island: (250) 739-5749 or toll-free 1 (877) 734-4101
  • North Island: (250) 331-8570 or toll-free 1 (866) 928-4988

Links

For more information, brochures or posters, email communityvirtualcare@islandhealth.ca or call 250.519.7700 x11928.

Virtual Palliative Supportive Care (CVC)

Virtual Palliative Supportive Care is a Community Virtual Care (CVC) program that provides support for clients with life-limiting or Palliative End-of-Life care from the comfort of their home. It creates an additional connection between clients and their care team, using the client’s own device, the telephone or a tablet loaned at no cost.

  • Regular connections with a CVC Nurse by phone and secure face-to-face video conferencing
  • The nurse will provide education and coaching so that clients and caregivers feel more confident to manage at home

For more information, email communityvirtualcare@islandhealth.ca.

Links

Virtual Palliative Supportive Care (Public Site)

Conditions

Anyone in the Island Health region who has a life-limiting or Palliative diagnosis.

Referrals

Providers can refer patients, and patients can also self-refer, by calling:

North Island: 1-866-928-4988 Central Island: 1-877-734-4101 South Island: 1-888-533-2273

Hospital at Home (HaH)

Hospital at Home enables hospital-level care to be provided to patients in the comfort of their own homes. While patients are admitted to the hospital, they are physically located at home. Through in-person and virtual visits, patients can receive safe, effective care from healthcare providers experienced in hospital medicine and acute care.

  • In-person daily visits supplemented by virtual visits from HaH team members
  • HaH team consists of physicians, registered nurses, clinical pharmacists, allied health, and nursing unit assistants
  • Therapies and tests, such as vital signs monitoring, supplemental oxygen, IV medications and lab work, are all done at home

Conditions

Hospital at Home currently supports patients with known, reversible conditions (acutely ill but

clinically stable), who are admitted to the Royal Jubilee Hospital or Victoria General Hospital.

Referrals

The Most Responsible Provider can refer patients to the Hospital at Home program: 

By FAX: Please complete this form and fax it to the corresponding Hospital at Home office:

  • VGH FAX: 250.727.4013
  • RJH FAX: 250.370.8188

By PHONE: Call the Hospital at Home Referral line: 250.519.7700 x17665

Links

For more information, call:

  • VGH Office: 250.727.4397 x14397
  • RJH Office: 250.370.8156 x18156
Liver Care Clinic

Liver Care Clinic is a program that aims to enhance the health and quality of life of those living with decompensated liver disease while decreasing acute care utilization. The interdisciplinary team will work with patients to meet their goals, whether that be returning to work, meeting eligibility criteria for transplant or managing complications of their disease.

  • The clinic will use a combination of in-person and virtual visits, utilizing Remote Patient Monitoring technology to support patients at home
  • The interdisciplinary team includes internal medicine, gastroenterology, nursing, social workers and dieticians

Conditions

Confirmed diagnosis of decompensated liver disease AND has evidence of one of the following:

  • Esophageal varices 
  • Ascites
  • Encephalopathy
  • Jaundice
  • Hepatic Renal Syndrome
  • Hepatic cellular carcinoma- preference to refer to BCCA

Referrals

Referrals to the clinic are accepted from:

  • Hospitalists, GI and GIM physicians at time of hospital discharge
  • ED physicians after ED presentations
  • GI physician referrals from Cool Aid, Palliative Care, and GI Central
  • GIM physician referrals from community practices and Urgent Medical Assessment Clinics

Other sources: please refer via UMAC or GI Central​

Please complete a Liver Clinic Referral Form and send:

Links

For more information, email LiverCareClinic@islandhealth.ca or call 250.519.7700 x13081.

Please refer to the published Virtual Care Clinical Policies and Guidelines when adopting virtual care tools into your program or practice.

Ready to implement virtual care into​​ your practice? Visit the Virtual Care Services Intake page for more information.

Contact Us

Don’t see what you are looking for, or have any questions? Please contact the Virtual Care team at virtualcare@islandhealth.ca