July 14, 2022 -
In 2021-2022, the team worked on a number of initiatives with partner programs and health authorities. We’re thrilled to share a few highlights along with the impact they had on patients, families, health-care providers and physicians in our OVH Year in Review infographic.
July 12, 2022 -
A recent survey of Zoom for Healthcare users gave us valuable insight.
New text alert service aims to prevent drug poisonings and death
May 26, 2022 -
Development of the new text alert service is driven by an increase in deaths due to the toxic illicit drug supply in B.C. Learn how the Office of Virtual Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control collaborated on the text alerts service.
April 13, 2022
“Satisfaction and health outcomes increase because patients have the accurate information they need and feel empowered.” For many patients, virtual health tools are helping improve communication during health-care encounters.
Learn how virtual tools are increasing access to health care.
Digital Health Week 2021
November 29 to December 3
The Office of Virtual Health would like to thank our valued partners who joined us in presentations as we shared successful initiatives and highlighted innovative collaborations throughout the week.
The many presentations are available to view as recordings on the PHSA YouTube channel.
View the Digital Health Week Digital Health Week recording playlist.
Remote Patient Monitoring empowers patients in their treatment
November 26, 2021
“I was helping my doctor and helping myself.” In honour of Digital Health Week (November 29 – December 3), a BC Cancer patient shares how Remote Patient Monitoring made him feel like he was able to actively engage in his health care.
Read Matt's story.
Watch the 30-minute interview with Matt.
Virtual health visits: building connection between clinicians and patients
September 22, 2021
“My patients were very happy just to be literally seen instead of being limited to a phone call,” says Tessa Diaczun, pediatric nurse practitioner at BC Children’s Hospital.
Read Tessa's story.
One million virtual health visits highlights transformation of care delivery in British Columbia
July 12, 2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the number of virtual visits by video shot up from 1,500 to 20,000 per week.
Two families share how having appointments virtually has been a game changer for their children’s health care experience.
Meet the families and read their stories.
The Office of Virtual Health is recognized with a PHSA+ Award
July 9, 2021
In March 2020, most aspects of life changed. The Office of Virtual Health rose to the challenge. Virtual health became necessary for safely delivering health care to British Columbians and the team was recognized for their work with a PHSA+ Award.
Learn more about the OVH's COVID-19 response.
May 20, 2021 -
The dashboard tells many stories, but at its core shows the benefits that virtual health visits can bring to patients when used appropriately.
Read more about the dashboard.
April 23, 2021
A recent survey of patients who use Zoom to connect with their health care providers received over 1250 responses. Overall, survey participants rate their virtual health visit over Zoom at 95 out of 100!
Read more about the survey.
December 21, 2020
Many of the virtual health tools that you may have accessed during the pandemic were designed to keep B.C. citizens informed and safe.
December 17, 2020
For the first time in Canada, paramedics can connect Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing patients with live American Sign Language interpreters using an app on their iPhones.
September 17, 2020
The BC Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 Surge Office collaborated with PHSA Office of Virtual Health, IMITS and regional health authorities to rapidly deploy a technical solution for managing clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 29, 2020
The people of B.C. will have continued access to Virtual Health care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with generous support from Canada Health Infoway (Infoway), which is providing $3.3 million to the province, to be split between Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and the B.C. Ministry of Health.
PHSA is pleased to be recipients of funding from Infoway, a not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government that works with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada.
April 7, 2020
An article about the OVH Video Remote Interpreter demonstration project with Provincial Language Services was published in the April edition of Hospital News, a national online health care magazine.
April 1, 2020
An article in Canadian Healthcare Technology, an online magazine, covers the project success rate and patient feedback.
Friday, February 14, 2020
A video remote interpreter service launched by Provincial Language Service in December is set to give even more patients with limited English proficiency better access to care.
Friday, January 10, 2020
A new video remote interpreter service being tested at BC Cancer ensures language is not a barrier to care for patients.
Nov. 14, 2019
To recognize the importance of how virtual health is transforming the delivery of care across Canada, we launched a video that shares the stories of two patients who are benefiting from Virtual Health visits. Watch the 2-minute video
2-minute video.
Nov 4, 2019
Kathy Steegstra addressed an international audience at the 2019 TEC Vancouver Conference focused on innovative solutions in health care.
Kathy explained how the Office of Virtual Health is working to collaborate with health authorities across B.C. for Virtual Health.
May 27, 2019
Our OVH teammates attended – and presented – at the annual conference.
Michele Fryer, Director, Office of Virtual Health, gives a presentation on how OVH is collaborating with clinical partners to integrate Virtual Health into clinical programs at PHSA.
Feb. 28, 2019
The Office of Virtual Health teamed with two Virtual Health partners to present at the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council Forum on February 27, 2019.
The Virtual Health initiative with BC Cancer-Victoria gave cancer patients follow up care in the comfort of their own homes!
Working with BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services on the Breaking Free Online initiative that provides inpatients with tablets as an option to learn and progress at their own pace, rather than only during set meeting times.
OVH team members at the Forum:
Morenike, Kathy, Pooja, Michele and Ying
Feb. 1, 2019
"Pioneering and innovative." Thank you judges for honouring the OVH and its clinical partners, BC Cancer-Victoria and BC Women's Hospital + Women's Health Centre CCDP, with a PHSA+ Award!
