MS Teams

PHSA is transitioning from Zoom for Healthcare to Microsoft Teams as the primary tool used to conduct virtual visits.

​​​Microsoft Teams Basic is suitable for one-to-one visits (care provider and one patient/family member), staff meetings, webinars. Basic sessions include audio, video, call-in and group chat functionality.  

Learning resources 

While we understand it can take some time to get used to a new virtual visit platform, there are resources available to support you in having a successful virtual visit.  

PLS sessions moving to Microsoft Teams
Sessions requiring only a single spoken language interpreter, or multiple spoken language interpreters in one session or Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will take place on Microsoft Teams. There are no changes to on-demand Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services.

PLS session staying with Zoom for Healthcare: American Sign Language interpreter services
Zoom for Healthcare licences will continue for virtual visit sessions that require American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting.

  • Submit the PLS Interpreter Booking (CSM) request form with the meeting link field left blank. 
  • The PLS team will create the Zoom meeting and share the link with your clinic. 
  • On the day of the visit, a PLS representative will start the meeting, transfer host privileges to the clinician, and then leave the meeting.
Learn how to request interpretation services for a virtual visit in the Language Access Guide for Virtual Visits.

 Important points for all to remember  

  • Recording meetings on Microsoft Teams is only approved for the following instances: 

    • Educational sessions that cannot be attended by all who require the information 

    • Vendor demonstrations where information is later needed to conduct assessments or educate staff on product use     

  • PHSA employees should not be creating or using a personal (free) Zoom account that has not been provisioned by their health authority. A personal (free) version may not have health authority privacy approval and does not have security oversight like a licensed account. Using a personal account can put your organization at risk. If you have created a personal Zoom account on your PHSA-provided device, please contact PVHSupport@phsa.ca.