Ontario Health is now hosting the list of verified virtual visit solutions. Visit ontariohealth.ca to view the list.
Ontario Health Provincial Standard
Ontario Health oversees health care delivery in the province and, as part of that role, is responsible for setting evidence-based standards that will enable front-line health care providers to provide secure and confidential virtual visits within their communities.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and OntarioMD, Ontario Health has developed provincial standards for virtual visits including:
- video
- secure messaging
What is Verification?
The purpose for setting these standards is to enable more choice for providers in selecting the virtual care solution that best meets their care delivery needs, while ensuring clinical encounters are secure and patient privacy is protected.
Ontario Health’s provincial standards for virtual visit solutions are intended to ensure virtual care services are delivered using safe, secure, and interoperable platforms. These were developed in consultation with health care organizations and clinicians across the province.
Benefits of Using Verified Solutions
- Confidence in virtual care solutions that meet provincial privacy, security, interoperability, and technical requirements
- Safeguarding of patient Personal Health Information (PHI)
- Provincial funding opportunities through the Ontario Health Digital & Virtual Care Secretariat program (use of a verified solution is a requirement for solutions using video or secure messaging)
- Other opportunities for provincial program funding
Talk to your Vendor
Health service providers are encouraged to direct vendors to review the Virtual Visits Solution Requirements and to submit applications to become verified. For more details and guidance for your vendor visit the Virtual Visits Verification Process page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note this information will be updated in late November. Please check back for more details.
Which technologies are used to deliver virtual visits?
Virtual visits can be delivered to patients using videoconferencing and secure messaging solutions. A video visit (videoconferencing) involves a real-time encounter between one or more health care providers and a patient. Secure messaging is an asynchronous, written clinical encounter, typically without any visual input (except for optional image attachments), accessible by patients via a web browser or mobile application.
What is the Verification process for?
The purpose of the Virtual Visits Solution standard and verification process is to ensure that virtual visit solutions meet the provincial standards, and that virtual visits between patients and providers are safe and secure, with patient privacy protected.
How will I benefit from Virtual Visit standards and the verification process?
The list of verified solutions will provide you with guidance on whether your existing virtual visit solution meets provincial standards, or if you are interested in procuring or using a virtual visit solution other than Ontario Health video solutions through OTNhub, you may use the verified list of solutions to guide you.
Health Service Providers using a verified virtual visit solution will benefit through:
- Confidence in virtual care solutions that meet provincial privacy, security, interoperability, and technical requirements
- Safeguarding of patient Personal Health Information (PHI)
- Opportunities for provincial program funding
Disclaimer
This site is not intended for the use of individuals and patients directly. If you are an individual or patient and have a health emergency, please call 911. For less urgent health needs, please contact your primary care physician directly.
Ontario Health may, at any time without notice or liability, and for any reason whatsoever, terminate, change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the Virtual Visit Solutions verification process. In no event shall Ontario Health be liable for any damages or loss howsoever caused arising in any way from the site, the discontinuation of the verification process, any content on the site or by a clinician’s or healthcare organization’s use of or reliance on a solution listed on the site. Please ensure that you read the disclaimer in full to better understand the roles and responsibilities of solution vendors, health service providers and organizations will take.