As a dermatology patient, you have the option to have a Virtual Health appointment with the physicians of the University Dermatology Clinic, located at the Kaye Edmonton Clinic in Edmonton. This can include a telephone consultation, video conferencing (through Zoom), or a combination of the two.
Express (verbal) patient consent is required for Virtual Health appointments; written/signed consent is not required. As a patient, your voluntary acceptance or refusal to attend a Virtual Health appointment will be documented in your Health Record. You can choose Virtual Health or you can have your appointment in person. To help you decide, here is some information about Virtual Health:
General Information for the Patient:
Virtual Health uses technology such as teleconferencing and videoconferencing to connect you with healthcare providers when you are not at the same location. This means you don’t always need to go to your healthcare provider’s office for an appointment.
- You will get all the information you need about when and where to go to your appointment.
- Your clinic will let you know the services that will be provided to you during your Virtual Health appointment and/or any services that they cannot provide during that time.
- During your Virtual Health appointment, you and your clinician may talk about how you are feeling, review your treatment plan and care options, and your clinician may give you health information and education.
- The Virtual Health service is free for you.
- Alberta Health Services Virtual Health technology connections are secure. Any personal or health information you share with your healthcare provider during the appointment is used only for your care and treatment and other purposes allowed by law. Your healthcare provider keeps this information confidential, which is the law under Alberta’s Health Information Act.
- For your Virtual Health appointment, you will need to be in a private, quiet and well-lit area so that your health information and privacy is protected and your health care provider can hear and see you well.
- You and your health care provider will let each other know who you are and the reason for your appointment. You should tell each other if anyone else is in the room or comes in to the room during your appointment, and name who they are, even if they can’t be seen on the screen.
- There may be some limitations associated with virtual care appointments. For example, the healthcare provider’s assessment may be limited to what they can see on screen and they may want to see you in person for more of an assessment. They may choose to end the videoconference and schedule an appointment to see you in person at another time.
- Your appointment won’t be recorded unless your healthcare provider feels it should be.
- If the Virtual Health technology doesn’t work on the day of your appointment, your healthcare provider may need to contact you to book a new appointment with you for a different day and time. If the technology is not working, you can call the clinic where your healthcare provider is located, to let them know.
- You may have a family member or someone else you trust with you during your appointment.
- If at any time you feel that a Virtual Health appointment is not right for you, tell your healthcare provider and they will cancel or stop the appointment. Then they will make other plans with you so you’ll keep getting the healthcare you need.
- In a medical emergency, always call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department or urgent care centre.
- If you have other questions or health concerns, you can also call your family physician, a clinic you are going to, or dial 811 on your phone for Health Link – Health Advice.
- If you have questions about Virtual Health before, during or after your Virtual Health appointment, please call the Kaye Edmonton Clinic at 780-507-1257.
Alternatives to Doctor-to-Patient Virtual Care
If after reading through the above information, you do not feel comfortable accessing Virtual Care for your skin disease, but you are also not able to come into the clinic in person, we can also connect directly with your family doctor in a doctor-to-doctor consult. Simply have your referring physician follow the guidelines located here: