Experts at the C.D. Howe Institute and Women's College Hospital recap the Institute's paper discussing how to modernize the healthcare system to meet the needs of patients and calling for a policy framework for virtual care to provide opportunities for digital companies to expand and help doctors and nurses better care for patients. They say the infrastructure needed isn't bricks and mortar, but software and connectivity. They contend that the barriers to modernization include outdated regulations and policies alongside the needs of special interest groups. The authors call for all patients to have access to their own health information by 2020 to share with providers, and for stakeholders to evaluate the rollout of virtual care to see whether it improves the patient experience and improves outcomes. They also point to the private sector's efforts in virtual care and providing direct health services to patients in their homes or at retail locations. They conclude that governments can accomplish most of this virtualization through policy changes without spending new dollars, and the report offers 10 policy recommendations.
NBHC Care Experience