Virtual consultation with a doctor is an increasingly common practice. The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, tabled a draft regulation on Wednesday to regulate and sustain telemedicine, more particularly with regard to the protection of information.
The Quebec Telehealth Network was established in 2019 and it brings together all the telehealth stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the four telehealth coordination centers, as well as the 34 health establishments.
In addition to teleconsultation, other types of meetings with a professional can be carried out. For example, teleexpertise consists of a consultation between two stakeholders with a view in particular to confirming a diagnosis. There is also remote monitoring which allows clinical data on a patient’s state of health to be monitored remotely.
Telemedicine in the broad sense has made it possible to improve access to family doctors and specialist doctors in a context where physical contact had to be avoided to limit the spread of COVID-19. But even outside the context of the pandemic, telemedicine has advantages, especially in facilitating access to a doctor for patients in remote regions of Quebec.
The Ministry of Health believes that the sustainability of telemedicine will avoid treatment delays and offer greater flexibility for patients. They will continue to be seen in person when necessary.
Consent and obligations
Telemedicine also has its share of challenges. A 2022 report from the Auditor General of Quebec on telehealth recognized the existence of risks regarding the hosting of data and the presence of unauthorized third parties during communications.
The draft regulation tabled on Wednesday reiterates that the person who consults a health professional by telemedicine consents to the consultation being provided in this way. It indicates that obligations will be imposed on establishments as well as professionals practicing telemedicine.
They must inform of the terms and conditions relating to consent to remote care. “An organization must ensure that members of its staff and professionals who practice their profession there, including students and interns, receive training in the protection of information recognized by the Minister, upon taking up their duties or the beginning of the exercise of their profession within the organization,” details the draft regulation.
Establishments or organizations must also keep the information they hold and ensure its protection at all times, in particular by taking the necessary means to control access to the places where this information is kept.
They must also take the necessary measures to ensure that the information remains usable despite any incident affecting their support. They also have the obligation to put in place a procedure in the event of technological problems.
The supervision of telemedicine is part of Minister Dubé’s vision, with his Health Plan, with the aim of making a digital shift in the health system. The government is continuing work to implement the Your Health digital platform, which will become the single entry point for access to health services.
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