As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rapid shift to utilizing virtual modalities within Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS). In August 2020, members of the PGLO’s SGS Administrators Committee struck a task group to develop a virtual care toolkit. This resource is the outcome of this task group’s work.
The task group identified the need for evidence-based guidance to support clinical decision making regarding the use of virtual care strategies -specific to the domains of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA).
Decision making related to the use of virtual care, or what modality to use for a virtual visit, should take into consideration:
- The unique circumstances of each patient
- Clinical needs of the patient
- The appropriateness of virtual care for the clinical encounter
This resource (to access, click download button below) aims to provide a structured approach to critical consideration of the above when determining the a best approach to a CGA, taking into account:
- The available evidence and learning related to virtual assessment of the CGA domains, as well as
- The potential positive and negative consequences that may result from both offering and not offering virtual CGA
Related external links
Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry – Resources for Virtual Care Visits
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario – Privacy and security considerations for virtual health care visits
Article by Ira Parghi and Tanvi Medhekar, BLG Law (March 2021) “Managing the privacy risks of virtual health care”
RGP of Toronto – Senior Friendly Virtual Care webinar series: Part 1 and Part 2