Virtual walk-in clinics may contribute more strain to health care system: Ontario Medical Association

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Virtual walk-in patients are twice as likely to visit an emergency department within 30 days due to a lack of continuity of care, study finds

Virtual-care clinics may be adding pressure to the overwhelmed health-care system, the Ontario Medical Association said Thursday, even as some patients and doctors say they are vital alternatives to an otherwise necessary visit to an emergency room.health-care system

However, some patients and doctors are lamenting a reduction in virtual care options as doctors leave the platforms after the province and the OMA reached an agreement to reduce fees paid to doctors for virtual visits, effective Dec. 1. KixCare is no longer offering urgent virtual care services due to the fee changes, which it said has made its funding model unviable.

In order to maintain some level of access for children, the platform has launched a paid monthly subscription service for appointments with a nurse instead of a physician. For months, John – who said his daughters’ pediatrician is too overwhelmed to see them in a timely manner – was able to get same-day appointments through Rocket Doctor, a virtual care platform connecting patients in Ontario with physicians.

Ottawa dad Eli Kassis, who has been using Rocket Doctor since early 2021 to get quick medical advice or treatment for his son, said he has been turning to the service in lieu of a family doctor, which he’s given up on securing.

 

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Virtual walk-in clinics may contribute more strain to health-care system: OMAThe Ontario Medical Associations says virtual walk-in clinics may be contributing to the strain on the province's overwhelmed health-care system. After 25 years with a family doctor going no where making excuses and beating around the bush, I got answers in less than month with a virtual walk in clinic... Or it could be the artificial limits and quotas on the number of doctors
Source: CTVToronto - 🏆 9. / 84 Read more »