Lisa N D'Alessandro1,2, Stephen C Brown1, Fiona Campbell1, Danielle Ruskin1,3,4, Giulia Mesaroli5,6, Mallika Makkar7, Jennifer N Stinson1,2,7. 1. Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 4. Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 5. Department of Rehabilitation Services, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 7. Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies have been conducted describing the potential for using virtual care software during disasters and public health emergencies. However, limited data exist on ways in which the Canadian health care system utilizes virtual care during disasters or public health emergencies. AIMS: Due to the need for social distancing and reduction of nonessential ambulatory services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the SickKids Chronic Pain Clinic sought to transition care delivery from in person to virtual. The virtual clinic aimed to reduce risks associated with physical contact and environmental exposure without reducing access to care itself. METHODS: Harnessing of various digital tools including Ontario Telemedicine Network Guestlink, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. The Chronic Pain Clinic Team worked together to communicate with patients and families, schedule virtual visits, establish remote access to clinical data collection tools, digitize the after-visit summary, and add resources on pain self-management to the clinic's website. RESULTS: The Chronic Pain Clinic successfully transitioned all clinic appointments (multidisciplinary and individual; 77 appointments) over a 2-week period to virtual care. Virtual clinics did not surpass the usual time taken pre-COVID-19, suggesting that the clinic workflow was readily adaptable to virtual care. CONCLUSIONS: Access to quality virtual care is essential to prevent chronic pain from taking a toll on the lives of patients and families. Rapid establishment of a virtual clinic without gaps in service delivery to patients is possible given institutional support and a team culture centered around collaboration and flexibility.
BACKGROUND: Studies have been conducted describing the potential for using virtual care software during disasters and public health emergencies. However, limited data exist on ways in which the Canadian health care system utilizes virtual care during disasters or public health emergencies. AIMS: Due to the need for social distancing and reduction of nonessential ambulatory services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the SickKids Chronic Pain Clinic sought to transition care delivery from in person to virtual. The virtual clinic aimed to reduce risks associated with physical contact and environmental exposure without reducing access to care itself. METHODS: Harnessing of various digital tools including Ontario Telemedicine Network Guestlink, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. The Chronic Pain Clinic Team worked together to communicate with patients and families, schedule virtual visits, establish remote access to clinical data collection tools, digitize the after-visit summary, and add resources on pain self-management to the clinic's website. RESULTS: The Chronic Pain Clinic successfully transitioned all clinic appointments (multidisciplinary and individual; 77 appointments) over a 2-week period to virtual care. Virtual clinics did not surpass the usual time taken pre-COVID-19, suggesting that the clinic workflow was readily adaptable to virtual care. CONCLUSIONS: Access to quality virtual care is essential to prevent chronic pain from taking a toll on the lives of patients and families. Rapid establishment of a virtual clinic without gaps in service delivery to patients is possible given institutional support and a team culture centered around collaboration and flexibility.
Authors: Sara King; Christine T Chambers; Anna Huguet; Rebecca C MacNevin; Patrick J McGrath; Louise Parker; Amanda J MacDonald Journal: Pain Date: 2011-12 Impact factor: 6.961
Authors: Paula A Forgeron; Sara King; Jennifer N Stinson; Patrick J McGrath; Amanda J MacDonald; Christine T Chambers Journal: Pain Res Manag Date: 2010 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 3.037
Authors: Mary E Lynch; Fiona Campbell; Alexander J Clark; Michael J Dunbar; David Goldstein; Philip Peng; Jennifer Stinson; Helen Tupper Journal: Pain Date: 2007-08-17 Impact factor: 6.961
Authors: Philip Peng; Jennifer N Stinson; Manon Choiniere; Dominique Dion; Howard Intrater; Sandra Lefort; Mary Lynch; May Ong; Saifee Rashiq; Gregg Tkachuk; Yves Veillette Journal: Can J Anaesth Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 5.063