Virtual Healthcare Becomes Lifeline for Canadians with Long COVID
Vancouver, Thursday, 27 November 2025.
A survey by Simon Fraser University highlights virtual healthcare’s critical role for Canadians with long COVID, offering essential care access as traditional healthcare remains challenging.
Increasing Reliance on Virtual Care
A national survey led by Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences underscores the increasing reliance on virtual healthcare among Canadians suffering from long COVID. The survey, which included responses from 621 participants across Canada, highlighted that virtual care services are essential for reducing the risk of infections, minimizing travel time, and managing post-exertional malaise (PEM), a common condition among long COVID patients where physical or mental exertion can exacerbate symptoms [1].
Challenges in Traditional Healthcare Access
The survey also uncovered significant barriers within the traditional healthcare system, notably that 69% of respondents reported their primary care providers had little to no awareness of long COVID. This gap in knowledge presents a considerable hurdle in accessing necessary healthcare services. Virtual care offers a viable alternative by providing accessible and continuous health management without the need for physical presence at healthcare facilities, which can be particularly beneficial for patients in rural areas or those who are part of marginalized groups [1][2].
Technological Integration in Healthcare
The integration of virtual healthcare technologies, such as Zoom for Healthcare, is key to addressing the needs of long COVID patients. This platform allows for real-time delivery of health services, thereby eliminating traditional barriers such as geographic isolation and the risk of infection in crowded healthcare settings. Moreover, virtual platforms are equipped with robust security measures to ensure patient confidentiality and data protection, which are critical for maintaining trust in digital health solutions [3].
Future Directions and Policy Implications
Moving forward, the study led by Dr. Julia Smith aims to create a national guidebook to improve virtual care access for long COVID patients. The next phases will involve focus groups with equity-deserving populations and dialogues among stakeholders to refine virtual healthcare strategies. These efforts underscore the necessity of evolving healthcare delivery models to include digital solutions that are flexible and responsive to the ongoing challenges posed by long COVID [1][4].