EMERGE is officially SOC 2 Type II Compliant

Toronto, ON – Friday, August 11, 2023

SOC 2 Type II Compliance

EMERGE Healthcare Co. announced today that it has achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) standards for SOC for Service Organizations also known as SSAE 18. Achieving this standard with an unqualified opinion serves as third-party industry validation that EMERGE Healthcare Co. provides enterprise-level security for customer’s data secured in the EMERGE Healthcare Co.’s System.

EMERGE Healthcare Co. provides a cloud-based medical practice management and virtual care platform to customers throughout Canada. EMERGE Healthcare Co. was audited by Prescient Assurance, a leader in security and compliance attestation for B2B, SAAS companies worldwide. Prescient Assurance is a registered public accounting in the US and Canada and provides risk management and assurance services which includes but is not limited to SOC 2, PCI, ISO, NIST, GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and CSA STAR. For more information about Prescient Assurance, you may reach out them at info@prescientassurance.com.

An unqualified opinion on a SOC 2 Type II audit report demonstrates to EMERGE Healthcare Co.’s current and future customers that they manage their data with the highest standard of security and compliance.

Collaborative Care: The Importance of Empowering Patients

Traditional Model of Care

The traditional model of healthcare has long been a doctor-patient relationship in which the physician is the expert and the patient is the passive recipient of care. However, this approach is increasingly being challenged by a patient-centered care model, which recognizes the critical role of patients in their own care and puts them at the center of decision-making. Patient-centered care is a collaborative approach that empowers patients to take an active role in their healthcare, and it is becoming more and more important in healthcare today.

Recognizing the Importance of Collaborative Care

There are several reasons why patient-centered care is so important. First, it improves patient outcomes. By involving patients in their own care, they are more likely to understand their diagnosis, treatment options, and how to manage their condition. This leads to better adherence to treatment plans, improved health outcomes, and a better quality of life for patients.

Second, patient-centered care improves patient satisfaction. When patients are involved in their own care, they feel heard and valued, which leads to greater trust in their healthcare providers. This, in turn, leads to higher patient satisfaction scores and better patient retention.

Third, patient-centered care helps to reduce healthcare costs. When patients are empowered to manage their own health, they are less likely to need emergency care or hospitalization. This leads to cost savings for both the patient and the healthcare system as a whole.

Strategies for Healthcare Providers to Embrace Collaborative Care

So, how can healthcare providers shift to a collaborative care model? There are several key strategies that can be employed.

First, healthcare providers must shift their mindset to view patients as partners in their own care, rather than passive recipients of treatment. This means involving patients in decision-making, encouraging them to ask questions, and really listening to their concerns.

Second, healthcare providers must provide patients with the information and tools they need to manage their own health. This can include patient education materials, self-management tools, and access to online resources.

Third, healthcare providers must address the social determinants of health that can impact patient outcomes. This means considering the patient’s social, economic, and environmental circumstances when developing treatment plans.

Finally, healthcare providers must use technology to support patient-focused care. This can include online portals for patients to access their medical records and communicate with their healthcare team, as well as telemedicine platforms that allow for remote consultations and follow-up care.

The Shift Toward Collaborative Decision-Making

In conclusion, patient-centered care is an important shift in healthcare that recognizes the importance of involving patients in their own care. By empowering patients to take an active role in their healthcare, we can improve outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs. Healthcare providers must embrace patient-centered care and use the strategies outlined above to support patients in managing their own health.

Why choose a verified vendor for a Telehealth solution in Ontario?

Verified Solutions

As a doctor practicing in Ontario, you are no doubt aware of the importance of being able to bill your consultations through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). In order to do so, you must use a telehealth software that has been verified in Ontario.

One option to consider is EMERGE, a telehealth software that has been recognized as a verified vendor. This means that EMERGE has undergone extensive testing and review to ensure that it meets the highest standards for quality and security. By choosing EMERGE as your telehealth software, you can be confident that you are using a platform that is approved for billing through OHIP.

Comprehensive Platform

But EMERGE is more than just a verified telehealth software – it is also a comprehensive platform that can help you to streamline your workflow and provide better care to your patients. With features such as virtual care, online booking, automated scheduling, and patient reminders, EMERGE is the ultimate telehealth solution for Ontario doctors.

In addition, EMERGE is user-friendly and easy to use, making it simple for you to get started with telehealth consultations right away. And with ongoing support and training available, you can be confident that you have the resources you need to succeed with telehealth.

Top Choice

Overall, EMERGE is a top choice for Ontario doctors looking for a verified telehealth software that can help them to bill through OHIP and improve their practice. We invite you to try EMERGE for yourself with a free DEMO and see the difference it can make for your practice.

 

5 Reasons to adopt telemedicine in your healthcare practice

Check out 5 reasons to adopt telemedicine at your medical clinic

With the COVID-19 pandemic, major transformations were accelerated and imposed overnight, such as home office and remote learning. In the healthcare field it was no different. But are there reasons to adopt telemedicine in healthcare practices? Is it really that advantageous? Continue reading the article to find out!

Telemedicine is here to stay

Telemedicine is the present and also the future! According to a survey released by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), 47% of Canadians have used virtual care this past year. Of this group, 91% said they were satisfied with the experience received.

And although many still prefer face-to-face care, the trend is that virtual consultations become increasingly routine practices, due to their practicality and time savings.

5 Reasons to adopt telemedicine in your healthcare practice

But does that mean it’s advantageous for doctors? Of course, not all consultations are appropriate for telemedicine consultations. However, it is also true that a large part of services could be provided virtually. There are several advantages for which doctors should adhere to this technology.

1. Your services can’t stop during the pandemic

The COVID-19 is not the first pandemic in history, but it has taken on large proportions that not even the most pessimistic person had expected: social distancing guidelines for several months.

And with so many companies, schools and offices closed, the big question arises: “How to assist patients at a time when social distancing is crucial to the fight against the virus?”

With remote service, everything gets easier! The patient does not need to leave the house and also does not stay without medical assistance, and the medical professional does not need to stop performing consultations!

2. Patient’s care guaranteed

And since we are talking about not leaving patients without medical care, we come to the second reason to adhere to telemedicine.

In addition to the social distancing phase, telemedicine allows clinics and doctors to ensure assistance at all times. From a moment of quarantine, to requests for medical opinion, in addition to follow-ups of treatments and even surgeries.

3. Decreases absence rate of patients in your practice

As a health professional, you know the high rate of patients’ absence in your practice.

Virtual care ends up being more convenient, because patients do not need to be away from work or home, or to look for someone to take care of their children or waste time in traffic and in the waiting room of the clinic.

In short, this translates into an increased efficiency for you and your schedule.

4. Unburdens the healthcare system

Virtual care also helps to unburden the health system, reducing unnecessary visits to the emergency room, since many issues can be solved remotely.

5. Service in remote areas

One of the main advantages is precisely the possibility of reaching people in every corner of Ontario. We know how difficult it is to access professionals in remote regions. Therefore, the virtual service came to facilitate the life of residents of these places.

How to apply telemedicine in your office?

Now that you know the main advantages of telemedicine, know that to perform Virtual Care, the medical clinic needs a platform with technology that ensures data privacy and security.

If you are a doctor or have a clinic and are not yet in the universe of digital health, meet EMERGE right now, an application that prioritizes both your safety and that of your patients.

EMERGE is passionate about facilitating the productiveness and efficiency of service in the healthcare industry. We aim to bring satisfaction to every clients, whether it is making hospitals and clinics more prepared for accepting patients and cutting their operational costs, or saving patients’ time by avoiding frustrating waiting lines.

We hope our blog will be a supportive source of useful information that can be adapted to enhance your practice.

Telemedicine and Telehealth: Understand the difference between these two terms

Telemedicine and telehealth are among the main tools for health care in the world.

These tools aim to assist patients and health professionals, who are connected from anywhere through internet, regardless of physical distance.

Some of the benefits are cost reduction, time savings, convenience and expansion of the service network.

But do you know the difference between Telemedicine and Telehealth? Don’t worry, we will explain everything.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of information systems, communication and technologies in general in the healthcare field, providing specializations, interactions and direct services, aimed at professionals.

It is a broader concept, which involves:

  • Distance learning courses and classes related to healthcare
  • Health consulting
  • Storage and sharing of medical information
  • Knowledge exchange between health professionals
  • Telemedicine

And what does Telemedicine mean?

As you can see, telemedicine is a category that is within the concept of telehealth. It is easier to understand, because it is limited only to the use of telecommunications technology that covers distance medical care.

This includes:

  • Virtual care, in which the patient connects with the doctor without having to leave their home
  • Storage, access and interpretation of medical exams
  • Online chat between experts to ask questions and discuss more complex cases
  • Remote patient monitoring

What is the difference between Telemedicine and Telehealth?

Telehealth had its first records around the 20th century, when radio was the tool used to provide information and medical services to Antarctica.

Telemedicine appeared only in 1970, in the United States, with the purpose of bringing medical care to rural areas.

Thus, in summary, Telemedicine and Telehealth are different initiatives with the same purpose: to increase the quality and expand the access of health services.

However, while telemedicine is limited to clinical patient care, telehealth is a broader concept because it involves educational, administrative and other non-clinical health activities.

 

EMERGE is passionate about facilitating the productiveness and efficiency of service in the healthcare industry. We aim to bring satisfaction to every clients, whether it is making hospitals and clinics more prepared for accepting patients and cutting their operational costs, or saving patients’ time by avoiding frustrating waiting lines.