Virtual Delivery

Virtual care helped clients avoid repeated long-distance travel to urban centres for comprehensive diabetes services. Virtual GP visits increased by more than 3,000% for First Nations participants, exceeding the increase among non-First Nations controls. Evidence indicates that individuals unfamiliar with online communication do not fully benefit from digitally-mediated interventions. Virtual delivery was used to reduce geographic barriers to diabetes care. The Alberta Indigenous Virtual Care Clinic likely contributed substantially to increased virtual care use. Four patients reported that remote contact reduced their motivation to participate. Nine volunteers described feeling awkward trying to build relationships through a screen during remote delivery. The COVID-19-related shift to digital contact made connecting with each other harder for more than half of volunteers and several patients. Technology problems, lack of onsite IT support, and connectivity issues were implementation barriers. Virtual care limited some culturally safe and trauma-informed practices because physical presence was absent. Virtual GP care expanded dramatically during COVID-19 for both groups, especially…