Toronto has a Zoom ambulance
Now the initial examination can be done lying on the couch, without leaving home
Sunnybrook Hospital announced Tuesday the launch of its new virtual emergency department, offering residents a safer way to be seen. Patients will be able to get an appointment with emergency physicians through a special Zoom online platform.
This groundbreaking initiative was a response to the reduced number of patient visits that Sunnybrook saw during the first wave of COVID-19.
"We offer virtual appointments with emergency room physicians on a same-day basis. This pilot project is aimed at getting fewer patients to leave their homes, risking their health. We hope the digital option will shorten wait times and appeal to patients," the hospital said in a press release.
It is worth noting that appointments are strictly for urgent health problems that are not life-threatening to the patient.
The appointment system, which opens daily at 12:00 p.m., offers same-day appointments. You will need a computer or smartphone with video to access them.
Health Secretary Christine Elliott congratulated Sunnybrook on the groundbreaking six-month pilot project via Twitter on Wednesday.
