Virtual care is transforming how Canadians receive health services, delivering a patient-focused approach that lightens travel demands and eases strain on overburdened providers. Dr. Hance Clarke, a pain specialist at Toronto’s Centenary Pain Clinic, describes the change as revolutionary—particularly for patients who once endured long journeys for routine check-ins.
While initial consultations still require in-person visits, between 60% and 70% of his practice now occurs remotely. The benefit extends beyond convenience: it reduces unnecessary travel for both patients and providers. Clarke asks. The answer is increasingly clear: they don’t have to.
His 2021 research on a chronic pain management app highlighted stark differences in engagement between urban and rural users. In cities, only 25% to 30% of participants used the app’s symptom-tracking features. But in remote regions, that figure rose to 60%. The findings exposed a critical need: to serve Canada’s 80% of residents outside major urban centers, virtual solutions were no longer optional.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transition. What had been a niche convenience became essential. For providers like Clarke, virtual care ensures continuity—preventing missed appointments from derailing treatment progress.
Private telehealth fills public system gaps
Private telehealth providers such as Maple, Raven, and Rocky have further expanded access by offering monthly-fee services that bypass public waitlists and physician shortages. Though not suited for emergencies, these platforms provide timely care for patients trapped in overloaded systems, often preventing unnecessary trips to emergency rooms.
Public resistance to paying for health services has softened as Canada’s aging population strains public resources.
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Flexibility is another major advantage, benefiting both patients and providers. Doctors can now blend public clinic hours with private virtual work, creating more manageable schedules. For medical students, the shift opens new career possibilities. While specialties requiring hands-on procedures, like surgery or interventional cardiology, remain in-person, fields such as behavioral health, pain management, and multidisciplinary care can operate with minimal overhead, even entirely remotely.
However, the transition requires clear regulations to maintain patient safety as virtual care expands.
AI psychologists and remote monitoring redefine care
Beyond telehealth, artificial intelligence is poised to reshape care delivery. Clarke’s team developed an AI psychologist named Solace, which patients can access anytime.
The combination of AI and virtual care addresses more than convenience; it adapts to a health system under pressure. Current efforts focus on testing effective models, whether through remote monitoring, digital therapy, or hybrid approaches that keep patients engaged without overloading providers.
Virtual care has also challenged traditional assumptions in post-surgical settings. Clarke’s team conducted randomized trials comparing in-person follow-ups to virtual visits for surgical patients. Surprisingly, many preferred remote consultations, valuing the reduction in travel, especially those managing pain or mobility issues, over face-to-face interactions. For some, discussing symptoms or medication adjustments at home eased stress and improved treatment adherence. The trials demonstrated that even in high-touch specialties like pain management, virtual follow-ups can sustain therapeutic relationships while lowering access barriers.
This shift extends to how entire care teams operate. Chronic pain often requires multidisciplinary approaches, combining physical therapy, psychological support, and medication management. Virtual tools now allow teams to coordinate care more efficiently. A patient in a remote community might consult a physiotherapist via video, receive cognitive behavioral therapy from a psychologist in another province, and adjust medications with a pain specialist, all without leaving home. The technology bridges gaps previously considered impossible, particularly for patients with comorbidities like anxiety or depression, which frequently accompany chronic pain. Clarke notes these integrated virtual models could reduce care fragmentation, ensuring patients receive consistent guidance instead of piecemeal advice.
