FAQs About EMERGE (4)
EMERGE is a practice management software and virtual care platform that connects patients to doctors and other providers (e.g. psychologists, physiotherapists etc) using secure online/virtual connection. It a well-rounded platform that can be integrated into any clinic, corporation (e.g. corporate health) or organization e.g. university (student health care as an example)
EMERGE is 100% a Canadian company. It was developed with a Canadian public in mind, right here in Toronto. EMERGE is incorporated in Ontario, Canada.
EMERGE was first designed in 2016 and after 5 years of research, development and approval processes was finally released for public use in 2021.
EMERGE is extremely easy and intuitive to use. It was designed by engineers, perfected by patients with the help of our medical consultants.
FAQs by Healthcare Providers (7)
Having EMERGE in your clinic will allow you to attract more patients, such as in walk in clinics. Potential patients would contact your clinic via our app to schedule a virtual care appointment. You can see patients in the comfort of your home or clinic. This is especially useful during COVID19 pandemic. Using program is easy and takes less than 30 min to learn and incorporate into your practice. You can even use our program to provide virtual care appointments to your existing patients.
By using verified virtual care solution such as EMERGE, you will have confidence that our program meets provincial privacy, security and technical requirements, as well as, safeguarding of your personal health information. You will also be able to bill OHIP with the appropriate billing codes.
Absolutely not! EMERGE works parallel to your existing EMR. Think of EMERGE as a potential patient acquisition tool and secure virtual care platform. You will be notified by EMERGE platform on your computer when a new patient is looking for a virtual visit. You will then schedule them using your own EMR. Your own EMR will also be used for documentation and billing as usual.
EMERGE is one of the most secure virtual care platforms in the world. It uses two-way, end-to-end encryption software to ensure your information stays private. Our servers are located in Canada.
Yes. However, it is extremely affordable and seeing just few patients a month via EMERGE, essentially pays for itself. On average EMERGE costs less than a cup of coffee a day. At EMERGE we believe you will stay with us because of how great we are and there is no minimum commitment! That’s right, you can cancel it at anytime.
Yes! Although our program is designed to be easy to use and very intuitive, we do have local technical support available. Simply call, chat or email (contact listed in the platform). We are here to help!
Welcome aboard! Please contact us here: emerge@getemerge.ca 1 (800) 674-8090 (Tool Free Number) 1 (800) 674-8090 (Support through WhatsApp)
FAQs by Patients (13)
EMERGE is one of the most secure virtual care platforms in the world. It uses two-way, end-to-end encryption software to ensure your information stays private. Our servers are located in Canada.
Yes! Although our program is designed to be easy to use and very intuitive, we do have local technical support available. Simply call, chat or email (contact listed in the platform). We are here to help!
Steps to prepare for your appointment:
- Make sure you have the EMERGE app installed on your phone.
- Make sure you are signed in into your account – Still do not have one? Sign Up using the same e-mail the doctor used to communicate with you if he has invited you to use EMERGE.
- Find a private and quiet location with a strong internet connection, sufficient lighting and no interruptions. The doctor will not be able to conduct the consultation if you don’t meet these criteria. Inappropriate locations include:
Driving in a car
Public spaces (shopping centres, parks)
Common areas at your workplace
- Go to your phone’s Settings app to enable the following app settings for the “EMERGE” app so that you will be able to receive your video call:
Apple: Turn on Camera and Notifications
Android: Turn on Notifications, Camera, Microphone and Telephone
- Have your device nearby with the sound switched on, a strong internet connection and plenty of battery life remaining.
- Come prepared with any relevant information about your previous medical history or medications, and the top concerns or questions you want to discuss
What to expect when attending your appointment
- You will receive Email reminders before your appointment. Make sure you have your app open a few minutes before the appointment start time so you’re ready when the doctor starts the appointment.
- When the healthcare provider will call, you will receive a push notification on your phone prompting you to tap to start your video consultation.
YES! EMERGE is free to use with a valid Ontario Health Insurance card (OHIP). Even if you don’t have a valid health card, you are welcome to use EMERGE to search for clinics near you.
EMERGE uses proprietary technology to help patients locate a medical clinic (or allied health care professional) near you. If for some reason, you need an in-person visit or a follow-up, the clinic is located within your proximity and allows for follow-up appointment. You are of course able to choose any clinic using our platform! We are also one of only a handful of virtual care providers in Ontario that are verified and comply with the Ontario’s Virtual Visits Solution Standards. (see full list of providers here https://otn.ca/providers/verified-solutions/)
Your EMERGE profile can include your name, telephone number, email, OHIP number and date of birth if you wish. However, the minimal requirement is your name and contact information. This will allow clinic to contact you to verify your information and to schedule an appointment. Your medical information/file is stored only with your doctor.
As a patient, yes. You will have to download EMERGE application (app) through Apple Store or Google Play on your device.
If you are a patient, any cell phone with camera should work (you will need to install EMERGE from the Apple Store or Google Play prior to that).
EMERGE virtual care was developed with patients with disabilities in mind. EMERGE virtual care app is here to help. Simply locate a nearby clinic that offers virtual care services or is accessible by wheelchair. Our large font, descriptive graphics and ease of use, makes it a great tool for everyone. You are also able to find a clinic that speaks your language if English is not your first language.
Using EMERGE you can talk to a doctor from the comfort of your home. It will also connect you with various COVID19 related resources, such as, at home COVID19 testing, immunization clinics etc.
Please email our dedicated Privacy Officer at privacy@getemerge.ca
EMERGE has a variety of other functions. By using our unique geofencing technology and algorithms, you can easily locate nearby hospitals/emergency rooms, medical clinics, pharmacies*, rehab facilities*, dentists* (*coming soon). Call an Uber from your location or use Waze directly from EMERGE to take you to your facility of choice. Find out important information about the clinic such as opening hours, description of services, languages spoken, whether it is wheelchair accessible or not etc.
Deleting your account on the EMERGE App is straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:
1. In-App Account Deletion:
– Go to the EMERGE App on your device.
– Tap on ‘Profile’, then select ‘My Profile’.
– Scroll down to find the ‘Delete Account’ option and follow the instructions.
2. Email Request:
– If you prefer, you can also request account deletion by emailing us at support@getemerge.ca.
Data Deletion and Retention:
– Upon deletion, all your data stored in the EMERGE App will be permanently removed, except for any data you have shared with physicians during previous consultations.
– For information regarding data shared with physicians, you will need to contact the respective physicians directly. This is because physicians are legally required to retain certain patient records for a specific period, and these policies vary by Province.
– If you have any further questions about our data retention policy or the deletion process, feel free to contact us at the provided email.
Security FAQs (5)
At EMERGE, we take data security seriously, which is why we store your data on secure SOC 2-audited servers that are housed in state-of-the-art data centers. The location of your data center will depend on the location you choose for your EMERGE account when you sign up.
If you choose Canada as your location, your data will be stored on servers located in our data center in the Montreal area. This data center is equipped with the latest security measures and is SOC 2 Type II certified, providing you with added peace of mind that your data is secure and protected.
At EMERGE, we understand the importance of keeping your data secure, which is why we use 256-bit encryption to protect your data when it is transmitted between your device and our servers. This is the same level of encryption used by banks to protect their customers’ financial information, providing you with added peace of mind that your data is secure and protected.
At EMERGE, we take access control seriously, which is why we provide each user with their own account secured by a unique username and password. This applies to administrators, practitioners, and patients, ensuring that each user can access the platform securely and that their data is protected.
Account owners have the ability to control access permissions for each user, including the ability to restrict access to patient charts, billing records, and schedule records. This ensures that each user has access only to the information that they need to perform their job, and that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access. At EMERGE, we are committed to providing our users with a secure and reliable platform that meets the highest standards of data security and privacy.
At EMERGE, we understand the importance of data backup and recovery, which is why we use mirrored database servers to ensure real-time backups of your data. In the unlikely event that something happens at our data center, we can immediately switch to the other database server to ensure minimal disruption to your service.
In addition to our mirrored database servers, we also perform nightly off-site backups as an additional precautionary measure. This ensures that your data is always safe and can be quickly recovered in the event of an unexpected issue.
At EMERGE, we take data backup and recovery seriously and are committed to ensuring that your data is protected and secure at all times.
At EMERGE, we take privacy seriously and understand that there are two levels of privacy to consider: Account Information and Patient Data. The Account Information we collect from our Account Owners (such as clinic name and credit card number for billing) is covered in our privacy policy, which you can read here.
When it comes to Patient Data (charts, profiles, appointment history, etc.), you, our customer, always retain ownership of this data. EMERGE acts as an agent, storing patient data on your behalf. This means that you are the owner of all patient data, and we are committed to keeping it safe and secure at all times.
At EMERGE, we believe that transparency and ownership are key to building trust with our customers. By providing you with full ownership and control over your patient data, we are committed to helping you provide the highest level of care to your patients.