OTNhub eVisit Program: Description of Services

Ontario Health’s eVisit program enables the use of videoconferencing for initial and/or follow-up patient consultations from the convenience of a personal computer, laptop or mobile app on an iOS or Android device. eVisits support clinical, non-clinical and education events using Ontario Health’s scheduling tool Telemedicine Service Manager (TSM)/Ncompass and applications available directly on the OTNhub. eVisits enable the health care professionals to see patients, case-conference, participate in distance learning, and attend meetings in Ontario.

After health care providers have been granted access to eVisit through the OTNhub, they can use videoconferencing in the three following convenient ways:

1. Direct to Patient eVisit on a mac or PC: Using a personal computer (PC or Mac) connected to Ontario Health’s private and secure network. This provides a similar, lower-cost, and mobile alternative to traditional room-based videoconferencing.
2. Direct to Patient eVisit using the mobile app on an iOS or Android device: Health care professionals using the mobile app can make and receive private and secure videoconference calls from their iPhone, iPad, or Android device to anyone on the Ontario Health network.
3. Hosted eVisit using room-based video systems located in healthcare organizations across the province: With OTNhub membership, health care professionals have access to video systems in hospitals, clinics and other allied health organizations to provide eVisit to Ontario patients.

The OTNhub Directory feature allows health care professionals to locate individuals and institutions offering eVisits in Ontario.

eVisit Benefits

eVisit offers convenience and efficiency for both patients and health care providers. Benefits include:

• increasing the reach of health care providers offering specialized services
• eliminating costly and time-consuming long-distance travel for patients
• reducing health care provider down-time and lost productivity due to travel for education and/or meetings

How the Technology Works

Direct to Patient eVisit work by sending an email invitation to patients and by using the internet, a webcam, a computer or tablet with a speaker and microphone, and by downloading the Pexip app. Patients join their eVisit by clicking the link in their email invitation on the scheduled date and time. Health care providers may also opt to use a PIN to further secure the eVisit. The PIN is then provided to the patient separately (for example, by phone) and the patient will be prompted to enter the PIN to join the eVisit.

SAFEGUARDS

For information about Ontario Health safeguards, visit Safeguards for the Protection of Personal Information and Personal Health Information.

Safeguards Specific to Direct to Patient eVisit

• Emails generated do not contain any identifiable information (for example, physician or clinic name and contact information) which may be considered PHI in the context of a clinical event.
• Users are asked to confirm the name and the email address of participants when generating invites to ensure that the email is sent to the correct recipient.
• PIN information is never included in the email notification for clinical events so that, in the event of an intercepted email, the invitation alone will not include enough information for a third party to join an event protected by a PIN. The eVisit host may provide the PIN to an invitee during their initial consultation or over the phone.
• The eVisit appointment links included in email invitations are single use and are set to expire automatically after a set time period.

See our Contact page to find information on how to contact the Ontario Health Privacy Office.