Every day across southwestern Ontario, about 1,000 patients of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) receive care without leaving their home. Below, read how patients John Kain and Julie and Noah Batson benefitted from the convenience and expanding options of LHSC’s virtual care program.
ACCESSING PRE-OPERATIVE CARE VIRTUALLY A GAME CHANGER IN JONH KAIN’S KNEE SURGERY JOURNEY
John Kain is no stranger to knee operations. He had been down this road before when he had undergone surgeries on his right and left knees in 2012 and 2013, respectively, to address early-stage osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, his right knee continued to deteriorate. What made John’s experience unique this time around was that he received an important part of his pre-operative care virtually.
“Prior to this most recent surgery I could only bend my knee 105 degrees. I wasn’t in constant discomfort, but every so often I would get a sharp pain on the side of the knee and it would sometimes give out. I also noticed a lot of muscle tightness in my hamstrings and calf muscles.”
After consulting with LHSC orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Richard McCalden, it was decided that a total knee replacement surgery was the best course of action. To prepare for the surgery, the Port Elgin native was invited to participate in a virtual pre-operative education session.
From the comfort of his own home, John joined a group of 13 other knee surgery patients and watched as a physiotherapist provided detailed information about what to expect before, during and after the surgery, and provided advice on how to prepare his home environment for his return after the operation.
“It was great,” says John. “My experience and the surgery went exactly as was laid out during the session. A video demonstrating post-operative exercises and pain management strategies was shown and we were given ample opportunity to ask questions. I felt very well prepared on the day of my surgery. If anything, the virtual session went into even more detail than the in-person briefing I received before my first surgery.”
Just as important, it was easy, adds John.
“I received an email a couple of weeks prior inviting me to the session and offering the assistance of a digital navigator to familiarize myself with the WebEx platform (virtual video platform). The morning of, I received a reminder email with the link to log onto the meeting.”
“It took a few minutes longer than expected to log in, but it wasn’t difficult. I consider myself pretty computer literate, but really, I think anyone could do it.”
The virtual option also saved him from having to make the trip to and from London.
“A round trip to London equals a two-and-a half-hour drive, usually the added expense of stopping for lunch, and building in time for traffic, weather conditions (the roads to and from Port Elgin can be dicey) and navigating the hospital with a painful knee. It takes up a good chunk of the day.”
Today, John is on the road to recovery. His knee surgery went well and he is participating in weekly in-person physiotherapy appointments in his home community. The pain has subsided and he looks forward to returning to his regular activities.
When asked if he would opt for a virtual appointment again, John is emphatic in his response; “Without hesitation.”
For many people, especially those who live outside of London or those with mobility issues, virtual appointments can alleviate much stress and worry, and allow patients to focus on what’s important – the information they are receiving from their care provider. John encourages those who are hesitant to give it a try.
“They provide you with step-by-step instructions, and there is the digital navigator who can help those who believe they are not tech savvy. It is well worth it and much easier than you think.”
HOW VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS HELP A FAMILY MANAGE DIABETES FROM HOME
It’s a cold February afternoon. Julie Batson is relieved she doesn’t have to make the drive to London for her son’s appointment with his endocrinologist. The check-up is held virtually, saving Julie the 45-minute drive to and from Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, and Noah from missing another full day of school.
Noah is an energetic and outgoing 11-year-old. In June 2022, his parents began noticing something was amiss – Noah was losing weight. He was also constantly thirsty, frequently needed to use the bathroom and was often tired.
Julie is familiar with the signs of type I diabetes. Both her brother and nephew live with diabetes. Julie drove her son to her brother’s house and asked him to check Noah’s blood sugar. It was a whopping 31 mmol/L (5.0 to 7.8 mmol/L is the normal blood sugar range for an individual without diabetes). They drove directly to the hospital.
The first few months after Noah’s diagnosis were busy with appointments with his health care team as the family learned how to monitor blood glucose levels, administer insulin and manage Noah’s condition. Having the option to attend some of these appointments virtually has been a game changer for the family.
"The commute to the clinic, traffic, taking time off work and the disruption to Noah’s school day can be stressful," Julie explains. "Knowing we have the option of a more convenient solution that won't compromise Noah’s quality of care is excellent."
The process was “incredibly smooth,” Julie recalls.
"I had a practice call with a digital navigator the day before our first virtual appointment. The day of the appointment I used a secure link to join the video call and within minutes I was speaking with the doctor."
During the virtual appointment, they reviewed Noah's latest blood test results and discussed how the family was managing. Julie felt comfortable and had plenty of opportunity to ask questions. The best part? Julie could do all this from her home and Noah didn’t have to miss a full day of school.
Today, Noah is feeling much better. He took on the challenge of living with diabetes with remarkable bravery. With the support of his parents and health-care team he has mastered how to check his blood sugar, administer insulin injections and make dietary choices that keep him healthy.
Like many school-aged kids, Noah is looking forward to the warm weather.
“Noah loves the water – swimming is his thing,” says Julie. “We hope to take advantage of the outdoor pool near our home as much as possible.”
Safe to say, Noah is looking forward to a long, hot summer.