RESPIRATORY/EAR-NOSE-THROAT INFECTION – POLICY DR CHANG.
Dr. Chang would like to highlight that respiratory infections are very challenging to diagnose/manage on a telephone phone call and she encourages all patients to try to find a live doctor. If you choose to continue, she recommends that all patients read up on CHOOSING WISELY CANADA GUIDELINES RE: ANTIBIOTIC USE****. Please understand ***SEVERE**** limitations of what a telehealth service can offer in terms of assessment for respiratory infections.
1. PHOTOGRAPH of thermometer reading – MANDATORY
2. Photograph of back of throat/tonsils – MANDATORY
3. Strep test at local pharmacy (shoppers drug mart) and results uploaded to chart – recommended but not mandatory
4. Weight – MANDATORY IF UNDER AGE 18
Once this is provided and uploaded, please rebook back in. Additionally, please inform patients that respiratory issues via a telehealth service are ****strongly discouraged****, but if patients insist on keeping this appointment, we need the aforementioned information provided at least 24 to 48h prior to visit to avoid cancellation and/or delay.
Virtual Care 101: What Dr Chang Can and Can't provide Over the Phone
Qualify your Visit 1st with Dr Chang
Dr Chang would not be issuing any lab requisitions blood test over the phone
(please book to Dr Sohal, Dr Simenhoff, Dr Raza, Dr Shamsi, Dr Kintu instead)
Dr Chang would not be seeing any private pay patients (If you are not a BC resident and does not have a valid MSP BC care card number that starts with number 9
(please book to Dr Sohal, Dr Simenhoff, Dr Raza, Dr Sawal, Dr Shamsi, Dr Kintu instead)
PLEASE READ BEFORE PROCEEDING
1. The Following is MANDATORY before visit in Order to use our telehealth service when booking with Dr Chang:
Weight of Children***
List of drug Allergies
And list of Rx refills and dosage needed during the call
2. Dr Chang would like to remind the public to use discretion prior to booking a telehealth visit as some issues can not be managed via phone call only and best to see provider in person.
3. She acknowledges that there is a healthcare crisis with a doctor shortage right now (especially in rural towns), but this still does not change the fact that some issues cannot be handled via phone call only.
4. She also wants to emphasize that physicians at Vivacare Telehealth DO NOT FRAUDULENTLY BILL MSP IF A VISIT IS CANCELLED.
If you believe fraudulently this has occurred, please report this to Viva Care Telehealth and we will remove this billing to MSP.
5. Dr Chang would also like to remind patients that you have the option of selecting your preferred doctor ahead of time. If you have trouble booking with your preferred provider, please contact via email at:
She acknowledges that there is a healthcare crisis with a doctor shortage right now (especially in rural towns), but this still does not change the fact that some issues can not be handled via phone call only.
6. She also wants to emphasize that physicians at Vivacare Telehealth DO NOT FRAUDULENTLY BILL MSP IF A VISIT IS CANCELLED.
If you believe fraudulently this has occurred, please report this to Viva Care Telehealth and we will remove this billing to MSP.
7. Dr Chang would also like to remind patients that you have the option of selecting your preferred doctor ahead of time. If you have trouble booking with your preferred provider, please contact via email at: telehealth@vivacare.ca and we will do our best to accommodate you as we have many physicians working with us.
If your issue is urgent, please try to select the next available doctor or head to your local urgent care/ER.
8. For Any Sick notes: patient need the reason for the Sicknote and the date for Sicknote
9. On a final note, physicians at Vivacare Telehealth abide try our best to abide by the Choosing Wisely Canada guidelines and this includes careful use of antibiotics prescriptions*, and avoiding unnecessary testing without a specific indication in generally healthy patients without relevant risk factors or specific medical conditions.
For example, we advise against “general testing” or “annual testing” without a specific indication nor impact on management.
Please try to book instead to Dr Sohal, Dr Simenhoff, Dr Raza, Dr Shamsi, Dr Brar, and Dr Kintu if Viva Care Telehealth qualifies.