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Zoom for Healthcare

Zoom for Healthcare is a cloud-based video conferencing software approved for the delivery of virtual health. To support virtual health visits, PHSA endorses the use of Zoom for Healthcare, not Zoom Basic.

Notice: Changes coming to Zoom for Healthcare accounts for business and clinical users at PHSA

In 2023, Microsoft Teams was rolled out across PHSA for non-clinical use. Now that this is available and to reduce costs and maintenance for two virtual meeting platforms (Zoom for Healthcare and Microsoft Teams), new Zoom for Healthcare licenses for PHSA employees will only be assigned to care providers and their administrative support staff who need Zoom to provide patient care, including virtual health visits.  

PHSA will decommission all business use (non-clinical) Zoom for Healthcare accounts in the coming weeks, and no new accounts for business users will be provisioned.   

If you have any questions, please contact PVHSupport@phsa.ca. 
 

Zoom for Healthcare is endorsed by the British Columbia Ministry of Health for virtual health visits. PHSA is provisioning accounts to eligible health-care users.

Zoom for Healthcare is best used for scheduled or on-demand clinical appointments. It has screen sharing and chat functions that can be used for one-on-one or group sessions.

PHSA does not endorse the use of Zoom Basic (the free version) or Zoom Pro for hosting virtual health visits. These versions of Zoom do not meet privacy and security requirements for patient care.

Using Zoom

Request a Zoom for Healthcare account:

Provincial Virtual Health is coordinating the provisioning of Zoom for Healthcare accounts to users at the following organizations: 

  • Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) 
  • Providence Health Care (PHC) 
  • Island Health  
  • HealthLink BC (HLBC) 
  • Doctors of BC (DoBC) 
  • Community Living BC (CLBC)

Patients can join a Zoom virtual health visit with or without an account.

Please note the following online form works best in Google Chrome. You will receive an account activation email once it is ready.Request an account

Using Zoom for Healthcare

Please always use your Zoom for Healthcare account to connect with patients. Clinical users can access the application in three ways:

  1. Desktop application -- this is installed on most health authority workstations that are on-site and connected to the network
  2. Mobile app -- download the Zoom Cloud Meetings app from iOS or Google app stores
  3. Web browser

What do you need to do if you want to use Zoom to record patients for educational purposes?

Cloud recording is now available for all PHSA users of Zoom for Healthcare to record patients for educational purposes.

  • Make sure you have a PHSA Zoom for Healthcare Account
  • Go to the video recording request form
  • Complete the required training and other steps outlined in the form

Note: If you already have the recording functionality to record virtual visits for educational purposes without patients in the video, you do not need to reapply. However, if you wish to use it to record patients, please review the following documents to make sure you are using the functionality appropriately:

Where can I get more Zoom resources/support?

Find more Zoom-related resources under Resources.

For more Zoom support, email pvhzoomsupport@phsa.ca or speak with your Provincial Virtual Health clinical leaders.

How to receive a Zoom desktop application update

Updates to the Zoom software are issued periodically and require a few simple steps on your end. Follow the steps in this 1-page PDF.

Technical requirements:

  • Access to reliable internet (Wi-Fi or data)
  • A computer, smartphone (iOS or Android), or tablet with:
    • Speakers and a microphone (we recommend using a headset)
    • A webcam or built-in camera
Resources

Support & training for staff & clinicians

The Provincial Virtual Health works with provincial partners to develop education and training resources for users of Zoom for Healthcare.

Here are a number of resources to support you: 

  • The full Zoom Manual provides complete information on how to schedule, host, and use various other functions within Zoom for Healthcare. Some popular topics have also been extracted from the manual, along with other helpful information, to create quick reference guides listed below.

Privacy & security

Zoom Single Sign On

 

Provincial Virtual Health enabled Zoom Single Sign On (SSO) for all PHSA Zoom for Healthcare users on March 22.

What is Zoom SSO?

Zoom SSO is an authentication method that enables users to securely log into Zoom for Healthcare with their PHSA credentials.

This means if a PHSA employee logs onto an access device connected to the network on site they will not need to re-enter their log in credentials to access Zoom for Healthcare.  When connecting off site, the authenticator application is required to log into Zoom for Healthcare. 

The benefits of SSO

Zoom SSO will enhance security, by supporting two-factor authentication and remove the ability for non-PHSA users to access our Zoom for Healthcare network. 

It is anticipated that Zoom SSO will create efficiencies in clinical workflows, as users on site will not need to re-enter their log in credentials to access Zoom for Healthcare.  

What does this mean for PHSA Zoom users?

If you haven’t used SSO to sign in before, first make sure you are signed out of Zoom.

Users who work off-site will need to download the authenticator application, in the same way they would to access POD. The Microsoft authenticator application can be downloaded on your mobile device. 

Note: Provincial Virtual Health is supporting clinical teams that have generic Zoom for Healthcare accounts to transition to individualized accounts. In order to ensure that service delivery is not interrupted, this update will not affect those generic Zoom for Healthcare accounts, until a suitable transition plan is in place.

Tools and resources

For more information:


Privacy and security for Zoom for Healthcare

 
  • Always use your Zoom for Healthcare account to connect with patients. This ensures the privacy and security of the virtual health visit is protected. Please do not use any other version of Zoom, free or paid.
  • There are some unique risks when using technology to provide care virtually. The privacy and security resource is meant to support PHSA staff and clinicians in navigating privacy and security in virtual health.
  • This poster explains why other Zoom accounts – such as Zoom basic and Zoom pro – don’t provide privacy and security protection. It outlines how you can ensure you are using Zoom for Healthcare for your virtual health visits.  
  • Avoid using a public internet connection (e.g. external Wi-Fi) for your virtual health visit as it does not guarantee privacy and security.
Security configurations specific to PHSA Zoom for Healthcare accounts

We have applied the following configurations to even better protect privacy and security:

  • Virtual health visits are passcode protected 

  • 'Waiting rooms' for virtual health visits are enabled

  • Virtual health visits cannot be recorded

  • File transfer is disabled

  • Annotations during virtual health visits are turned off

 

Do:

  • Double check that the invite is addressed to the correct recipient(s)
  • "Lock" the virtual health visit once all participants have joined
  • Only allow the host to screen share during the virtual health visit 
  • If screen sharing, ensure no personal information from anyone other than the patient is being shared. If others are participating in the visit, request the patient's permission before screen sharing personal information
  • Enable/assign a Co-Host to manage participants during the virtual health visit 
Don't:

  • Schedule virtual health visits using your Personal Meeting ID
  • Use distribution lists to send out invitations
  • Share links to join a virtual health visit on public-facing platforms
  • Enable option to allow removed participants to rejoin the visit after being removed

 
  • Bandwidth capacity: health authority infrastructure and performance load to support simultaneous sessions and performance (use case dependent) 
  • Potential to send meeting invite to an uninvited recipient
  • Unintended sharing of personal identifiable information
  • Policy constraints if user is on external Wi-Fi or in a public setting


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