Have you ever had a medical appointment over Skype?

Telemedicine is the use of information technologies to provide clinical health care at a distance. In this digital age, the delivery of health care is increasingly taking place via telemedicine.

We are currently reviewing our Telemedicine policy. The draft policy contains a number of new or revised expectations to ensure it is up-to-date and comprehensive.

Key Features of the Draft

• The expectations set out in the draft policy are based on the premise that the practice of telemedicine is the practice of medicine; in other words, physicians have the same legal and professional obligations to patients.
• The draft policy clarifies that your relationship with a doctor is established via telemedicine in the same circumstances as when the relationship is established in-person.
• The draft policy contains general expectations for the practice of telemedicine:
  • It states that physicians must evaluate whether telemedicine is an appropriate way to provide care.
  • It specifies the conditions for the appropriate use of telemedicine.
• The draft policy also contains specific expectations for practising telemedicine across borders:
  • Physicians who refer patients to out-of-province physicians must take reasonable steps to assure themselves that the referral is appropriate.
  • Out-of province physicians are expected to comply with licensing requirements in their “home” jurisdiction and meet the standard of care.

Read the draft policy here.

Your feedback on the draft policy is important to us:

• Are there areas of concern related to the practise of telemedicine that are not addressed in this document? If so, what are they?
• Do you think the expectations for physicians are reasonable?
• Do you think the policy will adequately protect patients and the public?

You can provide feedback online on our website. Please do so by August 5, 2014

Did you know physicians are expected to abide by the Ontario Human Rights Code in their care of patients?

We are currently reviewing our Physicians and the Ontario Human Rights Code policy. The policy sets out physicians’ legal obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) and our expectations that physicians will respect the fundamental rights of those who seek their medical services.

We recognize that religious and moral beliefs are central to the lives of physicians and their patients. The current policy addresses situations in which physicians’ personal, moral or religious beliefs may affect or limit the medical services they provide. The policy provides physicians with an overview of the relevant legal obligations and factors related to these situations. The policy also articulates our expectations for physicians who limit their practice, refuse to accept individuals as patients or end a physician-patient relationship on the basis of moral or religious belief.

Read the current policy here.

We want to know what you think of the current policy:

• Does the policy provide useful guidance?
  • Are there issues not addressed in the current policy that should be addressed? If so, what are they?
  • Are there other ways in which the policy should be improved?

You can provide feedback online on our website. Please do so by August 5, 2014.

Meet Dr. Helen Ward, an exemplary doctor in Ottawa

Dr. Helen Ward, a forensic psychiatrist, was presented with the Council Award in May.

Dr. Ward is clinical director of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre's 46-bed forensic psychiatry unit.

In 2007, Dr. Ward was instrumental in spearheading the creation of the Mental Health Court in Ottawa. The collaborative program - involving the Crown, judges and defence lawyers - is designed to help offenders with serious mental illness such as manic depression, severe anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and dementia get easier and faster access to treatment, and at the same time, determine their capacity for criminal behaviour or to face trial.

Her colleague Dr. Jonathan Gray, who nominated her for this award, described Dr. Ward as "always warm, respectful and engaged in all her interactions with other staff and patients."

Do you know a remarkable doctor? Nominate him or her for a Council Award.

This prestigious award lauds doctors who have devoted themselves to their patients and to the profession and are making a difference in Ontario. Does this sound like your doctor? Then make sure he or she is recognized. Many of the past Council Award winners were nominated by people in the communities they serve. One of last year’s award winners, Dr. Yvon Gagnon of Vermillion Bay was nominated by the mayor and town council.

Deadline for nominations is October 1, 2014 at 10 a.m.

The nomination forms are available online. For more information, please contact Prithi Yelaja at 416-967-2600 ext. 402.