News, updates & events

News from 2021

Virtual health visits: building connection between clinicians and patients

September 22, 2021 -

“My patients were very happy just to be literally seen instead of being limited to a phone call,” says Tessa Diaczun, pediatric nurse practitioner at BC Children’s Hospital.

Read more here.

One million virtual health visits highlights transformation of care delivery in British Columbia

July 12, 2021 -

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the number of virtual visits by video shot up from 1,500 to 20,000 per week.

Two families share how having appointments virtually has been a game changer for their children’s health care experience.

Read more here.

The Office of Virtual Health is recognized with a PHSA+ Award

July 9, 2021 -

In March 2020, most aspects of life changed. The Office of Virtual Health rose to the challenge. Virtual health became necessary for safely delivering health care to British Columbians and the team was recognized for their work with a PHSA+ Award.

Read more here.

New data-driven dashboard highlights how patients benefit from virtual health visits

May 20, 2021 -

The dashboard tells many stories, but at its core shows the benefits that virtual health visits can bring to patients when used appropriately.

Read more here.

Taking B.C.'s temperature on virtual health visits

April 23, 2021

A recent survey of patients who use Zoom to connect with their health care providers received over 1250 responses. Overall, survey participants rate their virtual health visit over Zoom at 95 out of 100!

Read more here.

2020 news

Collaboration of PHSA leaders with B.C. health sector leaders contributes to transformation of care delivery: Part 2

December 21, 2020

Many of the virtual health tools that you may have accessed during the pandemic were designed to keep B.C. citizens informed and safe.

Read part one; read part two.

PHSA teams collaborate to launch app that connects paramedics to interpreters serving Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing

December 17, 2020

For the first time in Canada, paramedics can connect Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing patients with live American Sign Language interpreters using an app on their iPhones.

Read more here.

Teamwork results in rapid deployment of Virtual Health for monitoring of COVID-19 cases

September 17, 2020

The BC Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 Surge Office collaborated with PHSA Office of Virtual Health, IMITS and regional health authorities to rapidly deploy a technical solution for managing clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full article here.

$3.3. million in funding from Canada Health Infoway will support Virtual Health care across British Columbia during COVID-19 and beyond

July 29, 2020

The people of B.C. will have continued access to Virtual Health care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with generous support from Canada Health Infoway (Infoway), which is providing $3.3 million to the province, to be split between Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and the B.C. Ministry of Health.

PHSA is pleased to be recipients of funding from Infoway, a not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government that works with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada.

Read the full announcement on the Infoway website.

Video Remote Interpreter collaboration between OVH and Provincial Language Service in online magazine

April 7, 2020

An article about the OVH Video Remote Interpreter demonstration project with Provincial Language Services was published in the April edition of Hospital News, a national online health care magazine.

Read the full article.

Our demonstration projects with Think Research, a Canadian health technology innovator, help B.C. patients stay well, at home.

April 1, 2020

An article in Canadian Healthcare Technology, an online magazine, covers the project success rate and patient feedback.

Read the full article.

High demand and positive feedback spurs expansion of virtual interpreting service across three health authorities

Friday, February 14, 2020

A video remote interpreter service launched by Provincial Language Service in December is set to give even more patients with limited English proficiency better access to care.

Read the full article.

New virtual interpreting service gives patients with limited English proficiency better access to care

Friday, January 10, 2020

A new video remote interpreter service being tested at BC Cancer ensures language is not a barrier to care for patients.

Read the full article.

2019 and earlier

Digital Health Week in Canada

Nov. 14, 2019

To recognize the importance of how virtual health is transforming the delivery of care across Canada, we launched a video that shares the stories of two patients who are benefiting from Virtual Health visits. Watch the 2-minute video here.

What is Virtual Health, and how is the Office of Virtual Health helping to bring health care to patients?

Find out in this article.

TEC Vancouver Conference, Nov. 2

Nov 4, 2019

Kathy Steegstra addressed an international audience at the 2019 TEC Vancouver Conference focused on innovative solutions in health care.

Kathy explained how the Office of Virtual Health is working to collaborate with health authorities across B.C. for Virtual Health.

e-Health Annual Conference & Trade Show in Toronto, May 26 to 29

May 27, 2019

Our OVH teammates attended – and presented – at the annual conference.

Michele Fryer, Director, Office of Virtual Health, gives a presentation on how OVH is collaborating with clinical partners to integrate Virtual Health into clinical programs at PHSA.

BC Patient Safety & Quality Council Forum, Vancouver, February 28, 2019

Feb. 28, 2019

The Office of Virtual Health teamed with two Virtual Health partners to present at the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council Forum on February 27, 2019.

The Virtual Health initiative with BC Cancer-Victoria gave cancer patients follow up care in the comfort of their own homes!

Working with BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services on the Breaking Free Online initiative that provides inpatients with tablets as an option to learn and progress at their own pace, rather than only during set meeting times.

OVH team members at the Forum:

Morenike, Kathy, Pooja, Michele and Ying

OVH and its clinical partners are honoured with a PHSA+ Award

Feb. 1, 2019

"Pioneering and innovative." Thank you judges for honouring the OVH and its clinical partners, BC Cancer-Victoria and BC Women's Hospital + Women's Health Centre CCDP, with a PHSA+ Award!

Read the full article.

OVH and its clinical partners are honoured with a PHSA+ Award

Feb. 1, 2019

"Pioneering and innovative." Thank you judges for honouring the OVH and its clinical partners, BC Cancer-Victoria and BC Women's Hospital + Women's Health Centre CCDP, with a PHSA+ Award!

Read the full article.

Our inaugural PHSA Virtual Health Forum was a success!

Nov. 5, 2018

On Friday, November 2, leaders from PHSA programs and neighbouring health authorities gathered at the Chan Centre for Family Health Education for the inaugural PHSA Virtual Health Forum. The event was a timely opportunity to mark Digital Health Week (November 12-18), an annual celebration and recognition of how digital (or virtual) health is transforming the delivery of care across Canada.

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