Deliver Cardiac Virtual Care (CVC) - A Primer for Cardiovascular Professionals in Canada

Abstract

\n The COVID-19 pandemic with its need for distancing has necessitated the use of virtual care in never before seen volumes. This review article aims to provide a primer on virtual care for cardiovascular professionals in Canada. The technology to facilitate remote patient interactions is already available but barriers exist. Adequate and effective cardiac virtual care (CVC) must be further developed given the need for rapid evaluation and close ongoing follow-up of patients, as seen in the areas of heart failure management, cardiac rehabilitation, electrophysiology, and hypertension. Many Canadian organizations have published resources to assist healthcare providers and patients navigate the unfamiliar virtual care landscape. While there are concerns surrounding issues such as patient privacy, access to technology, language discrepancies, and billing, these deficits provide opportunities for growth by healthcare organizations and technology companies. The integration of virtual care, home-based devices, and disruptive technologies emphasize the trend towards virtualization of healthcare, with the potential for greater personalization of healthcare interactions and continuity of care. Funding models were rapidly developed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and while some provinces have deemed these changes as permanent, the status from other provinces remains unknown. The foundations to support virtual care as a key modality for healthcare delivery in Canada have been built, and further developments may strengthen its viability as a long-term option.\n