Saskatchewan government wants feedback regarding virtual care experiences

Patients and health-care providers are encouraged to provide feedback on their experiences when using virtual care.

The Saskatchewan government said in a statement on Tuesday that information gathered during this process will contribute to the development of a long-term provincial strategy around virtual care.

The government also hopes to gather input from health system partners and other affected organizations regarding virtual care experiences from the past two years.

Health minister Paul Merriman said on Tuesday following question period at the Saskatchewan legislature that he would like to see more doctors offer virtual consultations for their patients, however he said there needs to be a balance.

“The virtual side is needed in some rural and remote areas or with seniors who might not necessarily be able to get to a clinic, but we also have to balance it out with in-person visits because some doctors prefer in-person visits, especially if the patient has a specific ailment,” stated Merriman.

“If there is an opportunity to do virtual, it’s a great opportunity.”

It was two years ago when the province adopted methods for virtual care to be accessed by patients to connect with their doctor or other health-care provider safely without having to step out the door.

“We want to hear what both patients and health care workers have to say about their experience. And if you haven’t used virtual care, we’d like to hear about that, too. I encourage everyone to participate as we work to shape the future of virtual care.”

Merriman told reporters that the government may make announcements regarding the budget when it comes to “throttling up the recruitment side.”

Dr. Eben Strydom, president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association, said health-care providers have learned a lot about virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He believes it’s an essential tool that has developed into a very important part of service delivery.

“I welcome this move and the effort to try and understand it better, specifically from the patient perspective in addition to the physician perspective to determine how we can optimize that even more,” discussed Strydom.

Strydom added that he hopes to see more education and available options for providers and patients to connect when it comes to virtual care being offered in the province.

“I think that it’s a constant evolution and I think we learn more every month about it,” he said. “It’s important to get feedback from physicians, some feedback from the patients to know what works and what doesn’t.”

The survey can be accessed by visiting the provincial government website.

Participants can provide their thoughts in a number of ways, including voting on polls, completing a survey and sharing a story or idea. People can contact 306-787-6750 or email virtualcare@health.gov.sk.ca if they require an alternate method of participation.

Feedback will be accepted until April 30.