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

由于新冠肺炎的影响，位于不列颠哥伦比亚省弗农的脊椎按摩、物理治疗和按摩治疗服务提供商莫纳西健康集团寻求修改其业务做法，以满足客户的需求。虽然面对面的就诊和亲身治疗是适当护理的基本组成部分，但社交距离和患者健康方面的担忧正在限制诊所照常开展业务的能力。在大流行的早期阶段，沟通成为提供服务的唯一方式，包括给患者打电话和发送大量电子邮件。然而，这种类型的通信限制了可以收集的有意义的信息量，并且不能满足患者的自我护理需求。这场大流行表明，患者和从业者之间显然需要新类型的沟通，以补充面对面的护理。患者需要直接与照顾者交谈，并询问有关处方治疗和锻炼的问题。从业者需要跟踪患者在日常活动中的偏好，以了解自我护理的动机。这些补充服务不能替代面对面护理，而是提供有效治疗计划的重要组成部分。MHC寻求与Okanagan College(OC)合作，研究和开发新的创新虚拟通信方法，以补充面对面的患者护理。这些新方法将被构建成一个新的原型整体健康软件应用程序，旨在支持患者和从业者。尽管MHC现在根据BC的重新开放计划提供有限的面对面治疗，但仍然需要新的虚拟通信方法来让患者在两次探视之间进行互动。该项目将允许MHC重新发明其患者和从业者的互动方式。它还将使该诊所通过加强患者沟通，在未来的大流行浪潮中提供更好的卫生保健服务。OC将受益于建立新的研究伙伴关系，扩大健康和健康领域的应用研究能力，并使学生能够从事尖端研发工作。

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.