Virtual Visits Solution Verification Process: Content
What is Verification?
In support of the province’s Digital First for Health strategy and to ensure virtual care services are delivered using safe, secure and interoperable platforms, a provincial standard has been developed to assist vendors and health service providers in their aims to offer safe and secure experiences for patients.
For a virtual solution to become verified:
Vendors must complete a submission package and attest that their solution meets the Standard as described in the Virtual Visits Solution Standard. Contact Verification@ontariohealth.ca to request your submission package.
Agree to participate in additional risk-based verification testing with Ontario Health within one year. For more details, click here.
Benefits of Participating in the Verification Process:
- Demonstration to the health care community of your solution’s alignment with the virtual visits standard
- Improved access to the virtual care marketplace through inclusion on the Ontario Health published list of verified solutions
- Clinician and health care organization confidence in virtual care solutions that meet provincial privacy, security, interoperability, and technical requirements
- Verified solutions inclusion in the Ontario Virtual Care Program (*provider eligibility requirements will be applicable and will be announced by the ministry)
Benefits of Participating in the Verification Process:
- Demonstration to the health care community of your solution’s alignment with the virtual visits standard
- Improved access to the virtual care marketplace through inclusion on the Ontario Health published list of verified solutions
- Clinician and health care organization confidence in virtual care solutions that meet provincial privacy, security, interoperability, and technical requirements
- Verified solutions inclusion in the Ontario Virtual Care Program (*provider eligibility requirements will be applicable and will be announced by the ministry)
The Standard
Ontario Health oversees health care delivery in the province and, as part of that role, is responsible for setting evidence-based standards that will enable front-line providers to deliver the best possible care within their communities.
Applying Ontario Health’s standards for virtual visits, virtual care services can be delivered using safe, secure, and interoperable platforms. These were developed in consultation with health care organizations and clinicians across the province.
Please note: As the provincial standards evolve, vendors will be re-engaged in the verification process and must ensure their solution remains compliant with current requirements of the standard. The published list of verified solutions will be refreshed accordingly.
Verification Process
In order for a product to be identified as a verified solution, vendors will be required to complete a submission package including:
Self-Attestation by the vendor CEO, or other vendor employee who has authority to bind the organization, that the solution meets all mandatory virtual visit solution standard requirements for video; secure messaging; or both video and secure messaging.
A summary of each of the vendor’s current (within the past 2 years of engaging in the verification process) PIA/TRA showing no significant outstanding risks. Please see the solution requirements of the provincial standard for full details.
Completion of the legal terms and conditions associated with becoming a verified solution.
Agreement to participate in additional risk-based verification (testing) within one year of engaging in the verification process.
Submissions will be assessed for completeness and compliance on a first-come first-served basis. Compliant solutions will be published on otn.ca/verified-solutions.
Ontario Health is now accepting Virtual Visits Verification submissions. To begin the verification process, please request a submission package by contacting Ontario Health at: verification@ontariohealth.ca. The submission package can be completed within any timeframe.
Ontario Health is now accepting Virtual Visits Verification submissions. To begin the verification process, please request a submission package by contacting Ontario Health at: verification@ontariohealth.ca. The submission package can be completed within any timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions
We want to support you to help offer the best quality solutions for virtual care encounters and help ensure your solutions meet mandatory provincial requirements. Please explore our Frequently Asked Questions and additional resources for more information about the process.
What should vendors prepare in advance of submitting for verification?
In order to become verified, vendors must attest that their solution meets all mandatory requirements as specified. Vendors are encouraged to become familiar with the requirements. In the process, vendors will be required to submit up-to-date summaries of their Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) and Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) conducted within the previous two years as part of the first stage of verification. Summaries must include a table of contents of the PIA/TRA.
How long will the verification process take?
Submissions will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Vendors should anticipate receiving a notice of verification status within weeks of submitting. Turnaround times will be dependent upon the volume of applications received.
How do vendors apply to be verified?
Details are available on otn.ca/verification. Vendors are encouraged to visit the site to keep up-to date on the latest information, in addition to https://otn.stagingotn.ca/newsroom/ where Ministry of Health INFOBulletins related to virtual care are re-published.
What does it mean for solutions to become verified?
All vendors are required to attest to meeting a set of mandatory virtual visit solution requirements in the form of an attestation. Solutions will then undergo testing to (as determined by Ontario Health) to validate it meets selected mandatory requirements under the provincial standard. Unique solutions will be verified – some vendors will offer more than one solution (product) and thus will be required to verify each through this process. Solutions may be integrated into different EMR or HIS platforms or may be used by health service providers on a stand-alone (non-integrated) basis.
What happens when a vendor is approved?
Ontario Health will issue the solution vendor a notice of approval for solutions that meet all mandatory requirements. The solution name will be published on OTN.ca for ease of reference for health care providers and organizations exploring their virtual care solutions options.
Disclaimer
This site is not intended for the use of individuals and patients directly. If you are an individual or patient and have a health emergency, please call 911. For less urgent health needs, please contact your primary care physician directly.
This site is not intended for the use of individuals and patients directly. If you are an individual or patient and have a health emergency, please call 911. For less urgent health needs, please contact your primary care physician directly.
Ontario Health may, at any time without notice or liability, and for any reason whatsoever, terminate, change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the Virtual Visit Verification process. In no event shall Ontario Health be liable for any damages or loss howsoever caused arising in any way from the site, the discontinuation of the verification process, any content on the site or by a clinician’s or healthcare organization’s use of or reliance on a solution listed on the Solution Site. Ontario Health is not responsible or liable for any advice, services or products that health care providers obtain through the use of a solution listed on the Solution Site. Please ensure that you read the disclaimer in full to better understand the roles and responsibilities of solution vendors, health service providers and organizations will take.