Physiotherapists use emails and phone calls in practice even when seeing patients in-person. However, emails and phone calls may be even more important when providing virtual care. These forms of communication help with triaging, the initial assessment components, treatment progression and compliance, patient education, coaching and to reassure patients and caregivers.
Whatever mode of communication is used with patients, the PT must make sure it's appropriate, private and the relevant information is captured in the patient record.
When providing clinical advice or treatment related information by email, the PT should consider whether it's appropriate for the patient to receive this information electronically. The patient's personal health information must be kept private and secure and should not be shared with others without patient consent or other legal authority.
Email considerations include: An email can be inadvertently sent to the wrong person, is often accessed on portable devices vulnerable to theft and loss, can be forwarded or changed without the knowledge or permission of the original sender, and be vulnerable to interception and hacking.
Physiotherapists should the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario advice on this issue: Fact Sheet on Communicating by Email.