Research and development of new and innovative virtual communication methods between patients and allied health professionals to supplement in-person care

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Due to the impact of COVID-19, Monashee Health Collective (MHC), a provider of chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage therapy services in Vernon, BC, seeks to modify its business practices to meet client needs. While in-person visits and hands-on therapy are essential components of proper care, social distancing and patient health concerns are limiting the clinic's ability to conduct business as usual. During early stages of the pandemic, communication became the only method of service delivery, which included telephone calls to patients and sending mass emails. However, this type of communication limits the amount of meaningful information that can be gathered, and does not meet patient self-care needs. The pandemic has revealed a clear need for novel types of communication between patients and practitioners to supplement in-person care. Patients need to directly converse with their caregiver and ask questions about prescribed treatments and exercises. Practitioners need to track patient preferences during daily activities to gain insight into self-care motivation. These supplementary services are not substitutes for in-person care, but are an important part of providing an effective treatment plan. MHC seeks to collaborate with Okanagan College (OC) to research and develop new and innovative virtual communication methods to supplement in-person patient care. These novel methods will be built into a new prototype holistic wellness software application designed to support patients and practitioners. Although MHC is now providing limited in-person treatment in accordance with BC's Reopening Plan, the need remains for new virtual communications methods to engage patients between visits. This project will allow MHC to reinvent how its patients and practitioners interact. It will also position the clinic to provide improved health care services during future pandemic waves through enhanced patient communication. OC will benefit by creating a new research partnership, expanding applied research capacity in health and wellness and enabling students to engage in cutting edge R&D work.