Virtual appointments and telehealth have been around for many years, but recent events have made them the primary way of accessing help from one’s home. If you are familiar with physiotherapy, lactation/breastfeeding, and mental health appointments, you may be wondering how they can be delivered virtually, and what that entails.

At Vida Health & Wellness, we use a secure and encrypted video software called Embodia for all virtual appointments. You can expect to receive a link to your appointment via e-mail. Embodia uses the Zoom Health platform to host the appointments. This is different from the regular Zoom platform and it complies with HIPAA and PIPEDA (health privacy legislation). You will need to download the Zoom program onto your phone, tablet, or computer. There is no cost to you for using Embodia or Zoom.

From there, you will receive a consent form and an intake form if you are new to our clinic, and you will connect with either Mercedes, Amber, or Christine at your scheduled appointment time. We will be able to see you and you will be able to see us. The first part of the appointment is exactly the same as in the clinic: we will ask you questions to understand your specific needs and how we can help. It is a live, two-way communication just like a phone call, Skype, or FaceTime. This means that you can ask questions and get answers in real time.

For physiotherapy and breastfeeding support, where assessments are typically hands-on, we may ask you to move the camera or yourself in order to see. It may be a good idea to have a partner or friend to hold the camera if your appointment includes a baby. If we need to see your whole body (doing a squat, for example), it is recommended to use a laptop or to prop up your phone or tablet. For mental health and occupational therapy appointments, this is less applicable.

A similar approach is used for the treatment part of your appointment. In the clinic, we use education, exercises, and hands-on care. The virtual appointment is only different in that we teach you how to do the hands-on aspects. Many people find this to be more helpful because they can manage their condition themselves, learning what to do and how to do it. You know your body and yourself best; our aim is to share our knowledge and techniques with you so that you can succeed.

The Alberta physiotherapy regulatory college has a helpful resource on telehealth.