AMA president Christine Molnar released a statement Saturday saying the AMA was not involved in consultations and is receiving information at the same time as the general public..TELUS Babylon released its app March 19 in partnership of the Alberta government..“Alberta is pleased to partner with TELUS to deliver physician services in a new way. This app is now available and ready for use in Alberta thanks to an alternative relationship plan, and it comes at a time when our health system is actively asking people to self-isolate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro said in a release March 19..“Using this app is an alternative to visiting physicians face-to-face when you’re not sure if your symptoms are related to the novel coronavirus or at any other time.”.The Alberta government also offered to compensate family physicians providing virtual care in the province on March 18 – at $20 per consultation – a rate the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association (EZMSA) says is the lowest in Canada..“On March 18, 2020, the government first allowed doctors to provide broad virtual cary by telephone, email and videoconference when possible, to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” read a statement by EZMSA on social media..“The fee is capped at $20 per patient/ per doctor/ per day, for all doctors, regardless of the time spent.”.In Alberta, family doctors bill $41 for an in-person visit under 15 minutes and up to $59 for longer visits, according to EZMSA, who also charted virtual care rates in other provinces and found Alberta’s rate is anywhere from 16 per cent to 88 per cent less..The new $20 rate is also $18 less than Alberta government agreed to pay TELUS Babylon physicians – who are to receive $38 per virtual patient consult..A request was sent to the Minister of Health seeking clarification regarding the contract rates for physicians through TELUS Babylon and the differential for physicians already established in Alberta communities..In a letter posted on Facebook, a physician from Peace River said theat she was “beyond frustrated”..“Family physicians have been begging the health minister to allow us to provide virtual care to our patients so that we can keep our vulnerable patients at home and promote social distancing. We want to be able to provide high quality care even if our patients or ourselves are in self-isolation,” Dr. Heather Shonoski wrote..Shonoski said doctors at the clinic in Peace River contacted TELUS to ask about access to the system and were told they cannot see their own patients..“We want to provide continuity of care, which has been proven to save lives and minimize resource use… If we could see our own patients we could do our own follow-up or arrange cross-coverage with proper handover to a colleague in our own community. This would minimize the risk of medical error.”.At this time, physicians using the TELUS Babylon platform do not have access to provincial medical records..A further potential issue with the Babylon project comes from the terms and conditions..Dr. Amir Pakdel, an Edmonton area medical doctor, posted screenshots of the terms and conditions on Twitter..Dr. Pakdel states that users “should be aware that Babylon is a multinational conglomerate corporation, funded by foreign countries – most notably Saudi Arabia – who owns a large part of the app.”.“There are alternative Canadian” options available, he said, that are not being marketed by the Alberta government such as Maple, a Canadian owned and operated app “that delivers the same virtual care services.”.“The Bablyon app records your video consultation and saves it on their servers. When was the last time you allowed a doctor to record your office visit where you share your most confidential personal information?” He asked..“By using Babylon, you also agree to allow Babylon Health software developers to use your ‘medical record’, ‘transcripts’, and ‘recordings of your consultations'”..The terms say that Babylon “may share your personal data with members of our corporate group and our partners” as well as “companies we have hired to provide services on our behalf”. It also states that such “data processors are bound by strict confidentiality and data security provisions and they can only use your data in the ways specified by us.”.However, “notwithstanding these safeguards, while outside of Canada, personal data may be accessible by foreign government agencies under applicable law.”.Alberta’s Ministry of Health did not return a request for comment before publication..UPDATE: Premier Jason Kenney said during a press conference on Monday afternoon that the U.K. and British Columbia have been using TELUS-Babylon without privacy issues for longer than Alberta..The Alberta government also added new billing codes to assure doctors are paid equally for virtual visits, including established physicians in Alberta communities..“We’re helping physicians provide care to Albertans during this critical time while also keeping them as safe as possible,” said Health Minister Tyler Shandro..“Virtual care codes will facilitate patient care while making it possible to follow public health guidelines of maintaining social distance and self-isolation.”.The services available for billing include telephone or through a secure form of video conferencing by all Alberta physicians..“These new virtual care codes will make it possible for physicians to deliver care safely and effectively to patients during the pandemic,” said president of the Alberta Medical Association Dr. Christine P. Molnar..“These codes apply not only for COVID-19 care but for all the physical and mental health needs of patients as they present every day.”.Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean is a Senior Reporter with Western Standard.dmaclean@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter @Mitchell_AB
AMA president Christine Molnar released a statement Saturday saying the AMA was not involved in consultations and is receiving information at the same time as the general public..TELUS Babylon released its app March 19 in partnership of the Alberta government..“Alberta is pleased to partner with TELUS to deliver physician services in a new way. This app is now available and ready for use in Alberta thanks to an alternative relationship plan, and it comes at a time when our health system is actively asking people to self-isolate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro said in a release March 19..“Using this app is an alternative to visiting physicians face-to-face when you’re not sure if your symptoms are related to the novel coronavirus or at any other time.”.The Alberta government also offered to compensate family physicians providing virtual care in the province on March 18 – at $20 per consultation – a rate the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association (EZMSA) says is the lowest in Canada..“On March 18, 2020, the government first allowed doctors to provide broad virtual cary by telephone, email and videoconference when possible, to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” read a statement by EZMSA on social media..“The fee is capped at $20 per patient/ per doctor/ per day, for all doctors, regardless of the time spent.”.In Alberta, family doctors bill $41 for an in-person visit under 15 minutes and up to $59 for longer visits, according to EZMSA, who also charted virtual care rates in other provinces and found Alberta’s rate is anywhere from 16 per cent to 88 per cent less..The new $20 rate is also $18 less than Alberta government agreed to pay TELUS Babylon physicians – who are to receive $38 per virtual patient consult..A request was sent to the Minister of Health seeking clarification regarding the contract rates for physicians through TELUS Babylon and the differential for physicians already established in Alberta communities..In a letter posted on Facebook, a physician from Peace River said theat she was “beyond frustrated”..“Family physicians have been begging the health minister to allow us to provide virtual care to our patients so that we can keep our vulnerable patients at home and promote social distancing. We want to be able to provide high quality care even if our patients or ourselves are in self-isolation,” Dr. Heather Shonoski wrote..Shonoski said doctors at the clinic in Peace River contacted TELUS to ask about access to the system and were told they cannot see their own patients..“We want to provide continuity of care, which has been proven to save lives and minimize resource use… If we could see our own patients we could do our own follow-up or arrange cross-coverage with proper handover to a colleague in our own community. This would minimize the risk of medical error.”.At this time, physicians using the TELUS Babylon platform do not have access to provincial medical records..A further potential issue with the Babylon project comes from the terms and conditions..Dr. Amir Pakdel, an Edmonton area medical doctor, posted screenshots of the terms and conditions on Twitter..Dr. Pakdel states that users “should be aware that Babylon is a multinational conglomerate corporation, funded by foreign countries – most notably Saudi Arabia – who owns a large part of the app.”.“There are alternative Canadian” options available, he said, that are not being marketed by the Alberta government such as Maple, a Canadian owned and operated app “that delivers the same virtual care services.”.“The Bablyon app records your video consultation and saves it on their servers. When was the last time you allowed a doctor to record your office visit where you share your most confidential personal information?” He asked..“By using Babylon, you also agree to allow Babylon Health software developers to use your ‘medical record’, ‘transcripts’, and ‘recordings of your consultations'”..The terms say that Babylon “may share your personal data with members of our corporate group and our partners” as well as “companies we have hired to provide services on our behalf”. It also states that such “data processors are bound by strict confidentiality and data security provisions and they can only use your data in the ways specified by us.”.However, “notwithstanding these safeguards, while outside of Canada, personal data may be accessible by foreign government agencies under applicable law.”.Alberta’s Ministry of Health did not return a request for comment before publication..UPDATE: Premier Jason Kenney said during a press conference on Monday afternoon that the U.K. and British Columbia have been using TELUS-Babylon without privacy issues for longer than Alberta..The Alberta government also added new billing codes to assure doctors are paid equally for virtual visits, including established physicians in Alberta communities..“We’re helping physicians provide care to Albertans during this critical time while also keeping them as safe as possible,” said Health Minister Tyler Shandro..“Virtual care codes will facilitate patient care while making it possible to follow public health guidelines of maintaining social distance and self-isolation.”.The services available for billing include telephone or through a secure form of video conferencing by all Alberta physicians..“These new virtual care codes will make it possible for physicians to deliver care safely and effectively to patients during the pandemic,” said president of the Alberta Medical Association Dr. Christine P. Molnar..“These codes apply not only for COVID-19 care but for all the physical and mental health needs of patients as they present every day.”.Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean is a Senior Reporter with Western Standard.dmaclean@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter @Mitchell_AB
