HEAL8180 Group Planning and SWOT Template
Name of Proposed Innovation:
Sector Proposed for Pilot Testing and Name of Facility/Organization(s):
Virtual Walk in Clinic
Primary care clinic in rural area
Workplan for Final Presentation: List the members of your group in the table below and what they will be responsible for (note that each student
must take primary responsibility for one of the following aspects of the project for the final group presentation): 1) innovation description &
rationale; 2) description of setting/sector and demonstration of the innovation 3) barriers & facilitators to implementation; 4) evaluation &
sustainability plan.*If you have 5 group members, please list the responsibilities of the fifth member below.
Name
Devanshi Mehta
Dharini Patel
Monika Ratan
Sandip Prajapati
Student ID
8820057
8806008
8816868
8820064
Responsibilities
Innovation description & rationale
Description of setting/sector and demonstration of innovation
Barriers and facilitators to implementation
Evaluation and sustainability plan
Brief Description (what it is, how it works, who developed it)
Importance (why is it important? who will be impacted by it?)
•
Patients typically book a consultation with their doctor online
before their virtual appointment. They can then have
conversations using virtual platforms like video conferencing,
SMS, or phone calls about their evaluation, diagnosis, and
treatment options.
Experience the excellence and convenience of virtual walk-in
clinics, where patients can communicate with doctors via phone
or video calls, ensuring secure, adaptable, and accessible
healthcare from the comfort of their homes.
Patients are free to schedule virtual doctor visits whenever it is
most convenient for them.
For people with time and travel restrictions, virtual walk-in
clinics are a fantastic and practical alternative.
•
Patients can easily report early warning signs and symptoms and
ask questions with the convenience of virtual visits, knowing that
their doctor is actively involved in their care.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A virtual clinic can work more effectively and efficiently while
providing prompt care to more people by interacting with
patients remotely.
The adaptability this clinic offers is advantageous to both
patients and doctors.
People who live in remote or rural areas have prompt access to
services.
It lowers the risk of infection transmission by limiting physical
contact.
This clinic treats minor illnesses or non-life-threatening
conditions.
Individuals, healthcare professionals, organisations,
governments, and healthcare regulators are all impacted by this
innovation on various levels.
It aims to improve communication patients and their healthcare
teams as well as between various teams of healthcare
•
HEAL8180 Group Planning and SWOT Template
professionals to enhance analysis, coordination, decisionThe development of new information technology systems that
making, and overall health outcomes.
are usable on a variety of devices is the result of collaborative
efforts between numerous companies.
Strengths:
Cost Reduction in care
Improved access to care
Travel time is saved
Better work-life balance
Enhanced patient engagement
Improved health outcomes
Efficient and timely care
Increased convenience
Elimination of transportation cost of physician visit
Elimination of long wait time
Minimized spread of infection
Opportunities:
Beneficial for patients who live in remote areas without access to
healthcare facilities
Enhance the standard of care
Patient can receive prompt treatment
Utilization of healthcare services on equal basis
Healthcare facilities is provided globally
Weaknesses:
Patient testing is not conducted
Lack of access to technological or physical equipment
Direct contact between physicians and patients is not possible
Costly setup and requirement of proper networking and infrastructure
Effective primarily for minor ill patients; chronic illness patient is not
eligible
Possibilities of technical issues which can break interactions
Inability to conduct a thorough examinations
Unable to handle emergencies or urgent medical condition properly
Some populations are not aware and not comfortable in using these
services
Threats:
Patient information safeguarding or privacy infringement
Possibility of misdiagnosis
Probabilities of hacking, cyber attack, or fraud
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Environmental Scan Assignment
Group – 4
Devanshi Mehta
Dharini Patel
Monika Ratan
Sandip Prajapati
Healthcare Administration and Service Management, Conestoga College
HEAL8180: Current Issues in Healthcare
Professor Kimberly Boughner
June 19, 2023
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Virtual Walk-in Clinic
The process of gathering and utilizing information about the occurrences, patterns,
and connections in an organization’s external environment to inform management of the
organization’s future course of action (Boughner, 2023, week 1, slide 5). Recent advancement
in healthcare, such as the Virtual Walk-in Clinic, warrants a quick environmental scan. Virtual
clinics have emerged as one of the critical elements of the healthcare system; however,
compared to other nations, Canada’s adoption and prevalence of virtual clinics could be faster
and more sustainable. Less than 5% of Canadian doctors’ offices and clinics offered video and
telephone consultations as a form of virtual care in 2018 (Matthewman et al., 2021, para.6).
Since the early onset of covid-19, a doctor’s consultation via virtual care has become more
necessary to stop disease transmission by maintaining a physical distance. The paper aims to
carry out an environmental scan to find the approaches, assets, and supporting data for the
implementation of virtual walk-in clinics.
Methods to Conduct Environmental Scan and Its Resources
We conducted our environmental survey using the internet and a Google search. As a
result of the findings, we decided to get together and investigate the rising popularity of
virtual walk-in clinics in Canada. Thanks to technological breakthroughs and telemedicine,
virtual walk-in clinics are here to stay as healthcare changes. We discussed it on WhatsApp as
a group, and we unanimously decided to use a written record to spread the word about the
results of our research. We discovered three scholarly publications and one web article to
support the scan. We also incorporated some data from the instructional materials. To do an
additional study on virtual care in Canada, reviewing academics and grey literature,
healthcare systems plan, materials, official papers, data, conversations with colleagues, and
various other resources was necessary. Information will come from governmental entities,
medical organizations, regulatory bodies, healthcare organizations, news organizations, and
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corporate virtual care platform providers, among other sources. To comprehend the virtual
care platforms offered to Canadian healthcare practitioners, a wide range of commercial
market options will be investigated. To better understand the scope, we’ll examine the
innovations in technology and platforms of software now in use (Virtual care in Canada Canadian partnership against cancer, 2019, p.3).
Innovation Description and Importance
Before COVID-19, online walk-in clinics purportedly served as a primary care
resource for those without a family doctor or who couldn’t quickly access one, including
those living in rural areas (Bird et al., 2022, para 5). Virtual walk-in clinics use video chat,
telephone calls, or text messaging to treat patients’ non-life-threatening issues online. An
online, walk-in clinic might be a good choice if someone is ill or has a minor injury, a
disease, an infection, or other urgent health issues. Several individuals are now aware of the
benefits of visiting a telemedicine walk-in clinic for consultation, assessment, and treatment
as opposed to an emergency department (M.D. Connected, 2021, para. 1).
Telemedicine is a patient-centered, population-safety approach of the twenty-first
century. Most families have more than one brilliant piece of equipment that enables
immediate communication between patients and medical professionals. In addition, since it
makes caregiving accessible to more people, this technology is a captivating, feasible, and
affordable alternative. Through technological innovation, virtual walk-in clinics enabled
confined physicians to give care to their patients. This concept enhanced patient outcomes
and reduced direct exposure to others during the pandemic (Monaghesh & Hajizadeh, 2020,
p. 2). Medical professionals may use virtual clinic innovation to inquire about concerns and
gather necessary details, triage patients, and give counsel, or evaluate if an individual could
4
observe their signs and symptoms from home after the recovery process (Monaghesh &
Hajizadeh, 2020, p. 7).
Virtual walk-in clinics may assist the Canadian economy by conserving both times
spent at work and leisure. Furthermore, it minimizes the likelihood of postponed
appointments and reduces the utilization of hospital emergency rooms for insignificant issues
that will result in lengthier waiting periods. This clinic enables individuals to receive prompt
treatment even if they live in remote places where medical assistance is more difficult to
come by (Marco et al., 2021, para. 4).
Additionally, there is an increasing requirement for virtual walk-in clinics for various
purposes. It promotes patients by offering more flexibility, increased accessibility, and more
affordable prices. In addition, virtual care improves care quality and equity, and it aids in
avoiding the occurrence of significant collateral instances.
Advantages of Virtual Walk-in Clinics:
1. Accessible: It helps to eliminate regional disparities in medical services. Patients can
interact with doctors via smart gadgets and the internet at a rapid pace. Consequently,
individuals who reside in remote locations where physicians are difficult to come
across may benefit from this. It can also help the ones who have persistent illnesses
such as psychological illnesses and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients
who seek sustainability in their care, even reside in remote locations with restricted
healthcare possibilities, can consider virtual walk-in clinics (Telus Health, 2016).
2. Fast and user-friendly service: The primary significant benefits are that there is no
waiting period, and it is simple to reserve an appointment immediately. Telemedicine
allows you to communicate with a physician or healthcare provider whenever and
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wherever it is most appropriate for you in the best way (M.D. Connected, 2021, para.
2).
3. Reduce exposure to pathogens: Patiently waiting in a physician’s waiting room for a
long time alongside other individuals can help transmit influenza, covid-19, and other
infections. Virtual walk-in clinics allow patients to remain at their residences while
eliminating pathogen exposure. This, in turn, assists in ensuring that healthcare
professionals are safe from contamination (Whelan, 2020).
Evidence for Support of Virtual Walk-in Clinics
1. Virtual walk-in clinics have been empirically demonstrated to reduce recovery
duration for patients with stroke (Bhatia R.S. et al., 2020).
2. Virtual primary care appointments were deployed in five locations in Ontario. Almost
14,000 patients stated that almost all their primary care issues had been adequately
executed, minimizing the need for a follow-up meeting (Bhatia R.S. et al., 2020).
3. Virtual care was utilized as well to assist post-chemotherapy symptom management
(Bhatia R.S. et al., 2020).
4. In addition, teleophthalmology has documented a decline in diabetic retinopathy
monitoring within the United States (Bhatia R.S. et al., 2020).
5. Ontario Telemedicine Network Expanded Availability to Primary Care is an initiative.
In the year 2018-2019, a pilot experiment was carried out whereby physicians with
primary care agreed to participate in confidential online appointments. In the initial
research, 194 doctors and 6,355 patients conducted 14,317 visits. Treatment: of
patients thought that it worked equivalent to or more effectively than in-person
treatment; 93 percent said it reduced their time, and 92 percent thought it was easier to
access than visiting a doctor (Bhatia R.S. et al., 2020).
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References
Bhatia R.S. et al., (2020, December). Canada’s Virtual Care Revolution: A Framework for
Success. C.D. HOWE Institute:
https://www.cdhowe.org/sites/default/files/2021-12/Commentary_586.pdf
Bird et al., (2022). Characteristics and Health Care Use of Patients Attending Virtual Walk-in
Clinics in Ontario, Canada: Cross-sectional Analysis. JMIR Publications:
https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e40267
Boughner, K. (2023), Week 1, PowerPoint Presentation. eConestoga:
https://conestoga.desire2learn.com/d2l/le/content/766681/viewContent/16019929/View
Canadian partnership against cancer. (2019, September 19) Virtual care in Canada:
Environmental scan:
https://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/topics/virtual-care-canada/ :~:text=The%20Partnership%20is%20the%20steward,of%20care%20closer%20to%20home
Matthewman et al. (2021). An Environmental Scan of Virtual “Walk-In” Clinics in Canada:
Comparative Study. National Library of Medicine:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8235276/
M.D. Connected. (2021). Top 3 Benefits of a telemedicine walk-in Clinic:
https://www.mdconnected.ca/blog/top-3-benefits-of-a-telemedicine-walk-in-clinic/ :~:text=One%20of%20the%20biggest%20advantages,connect%20to%20a%20doctor%20virt
ually.
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M.D. Connected. (2021). 5 Top reasons to visit a telemedicine walk-in clinic instead of an
E.R.:
https://www.mdconnected.ca/blog/5-top-reasons-to-visit-a-telemedicine-walk-in-clinicinstead-of-an-er/
Monagesh, E. & Haljizadeh A. (2020, August 1). The role of telehealth during COVID-19
outbreak: a systematic review based on current evidence. BMC Public Health:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7395209/pdf/12889_2020_Article_9301.pdf
Telus Health. (2018, June 07). Four reasons why the time has come for virtual health in
Canada:
https://plus.telushealth.co/blogs/health-benefits/en/four-reasons-why-the-time-has-come-forvirtual-health-in-canada/
Whelan, C. (2020, November 09). 17 Benefits of Telemedicine for Doctors and Patients.
Healthline:
https://www.healthline.com/health/healthcare-provider/telemedicine-benefits
Group Innovation Pilot Test Presentation
Due: See Instructional Plan for the specific due date. Format: PowerPoint presentation
Submission Instructions: Upload to eConestoga as a PowerPoint presentation
document at the start of class on the due date to the ‘Group Presentation’ folder. Submit
only one file per group.
Assignment Instructions & Required Elements:
Background: Your group has been given $1 million dollars from an investor to conduct a
pilot test of a healthcare innovation. Building off your initial SWOT analysis and
workplan, prepare a 45-minute proposal presentation with a MAXIMUM of 40 slides
which must contain the following sections:
1) Innovation description & rationale
2) Description of setting/sector and demonstration of the innovation
3) Barriers & facilitators to implementation
4) Evaluation & sustainability plan
Consider the following questions under each heading as you prepare your proposal
presentation:
1) What is the innovation your group is proposing? What type of innovation is it? Who
developed it? Why is it important? What research evidence exists to support a pilot
test? How did you evaluate this evidence?
2) Why did you select the specific healthcare setting to test the innovation? Describe the
setting/sector and identify the key stakeholders involved. Present a plan for how the
innovation will be demonstrated/tested in this setting (e.g., timelines, scope, number of
participants, key activities, etc).
3) What possible barriers and facilitators exist? Are there risks that need to be
mitigated? How will you address each of these? Consider both the innovation itself and
the sector/setting you plan to pilot test it at.
4) How will you know if the pilot test was successful? What measures/metrics will you
use to determine if the innovation can be fully implemented in this setting/sector? What
is your plan for sustaining the results of your pilot test?
Each group member is responsible for presenting the section of the proposal identified
in the original workplan assignment. Presentations must include one of the following: a
video, short skit, presentation of a model or display, or any other creative way which
shows how the innovation works in the setting you’ve selected, as well as a full list of
references.
Link to APA@Conestoga: https://lib.conestogac.on.ca/apa-conestoga
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