Equitable Virtual Care in Canada: Addressing The Digital Divide

Abstract

Online healthcare services are rapidly transforming the landscape of healthcare in Canada. Although the digitization of healthcare delivery has been occurring gradually over the past two decades, the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a “digital boom” in healthcare [1–4]. Now more than ever, healthcare practitioners and patients alike have transitioned from in-person appointments to virtual care via online platforms [3-5]. Virtual care, once an optional service, is becoming an essential one. A recent survey conducted by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) aiming to assess Canadians’ opinions about virtual care, reported that 19% of Canadians accessed routine healthcare via phone, telehealth, virtual service, or video conference with their physician(s) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 53% since the beginning of the pandemic [5]. Due to necessity, virtual care evidently went from being uncommon to the status quo during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

• Technology
• health disparities
• patient care