LifeLine BC
We are focused on advocating for complex chronic disease patients and high quality virtual group medical care across British Columbia
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Public pressure is the only thing that will change the Government's mind!
We need your help!
We need your help!
We'll help you figure out the best ways to advocate for your care within your energy envelope! It can be as easy as a phone call from your bed—and we'll give you all the information you need to make it as easy as possible. Email us today at info@lifelinebc.ca, or fill out our Contact Us form!
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What's the issue?
What's the issue?
TGMVs
TGMVs
Telehealth Group Medical Visits (TGMVs) have been targeted by the Ministry of Health and MSP. They call them fiscally irresponsible, not meaningful, and lacking in individualized care. But the Ministry has not talked to the people either providing or receiving virtual care. Because patients and physicians using this model know: it's absolutely meaningful, supports great individualized care, and is extremely financially responsible.
In Practice
In Practice
The BC Centre for Long COVID, ME/CFS, and Fibromyalgia provides life-altering care for patients with complex chronic diseases (CCDs). Care is delivered exclusively virtually, making specialist care available to CCD patients around the province. However, to keep the clinic viable, a 50-patient cap on group virtual medical visits is necessary, both for financial and efficiency of work reasons. This is just one of the clinics using virtual care to patients' benefit.
The Future
The Future
Virtual health care is part of the future of medicine. Even today, physicians are finding ways of increasing patients' access to good medical care using new virtual tools. Capping TGMVs at 20 is a massive step backwards in the quality of care that physicians and specialists can provide. It is backwards-looking instead of investing in innovation for the future, innovation that is already saving taxpayer dollars and is providing life-changing care for vulnerable patients.
Does it really work?
Does it really work?
One of the biggest questions is whether or not virtual group medical care works. The answer is yes. The BC-CLMF commissioned a social return on investment report on their clinic model from renowned consulting firm MNP. Their study showed that for every $1 invested in patient care through the clinic, almost $7 of value is created. It also showed that the clinic saves MSP more money than it spends by keeping patients out of ERs and other specialists' offices, as well as fewer visits to their family physician. And as if that weren't enough, the report found that the clinic achieves world-leading results in patient improvement: 17% of patients were able to return to work, and over 80% had significant improvement in quality of life.
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