Rapid mobilization of a virtual pediatric chronic pain clinic in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic

Figures & data

Table 1. Virtual care platforms and their clinical utility

Virtual platform	Utility
Ontario Telemedicine Network GuestLink	The telemedicine program at SickKids words in collaboration with the Ontario Telemedicine Network as a hospital-approved virtual care modality for conducting virtual patient appointments The GuestLink tool is used to conduct videoconferencing for patient appointments in their desired location
Telemedicine	Virtual patient appointments
Microsoft Teams	Team chat and videoconferencing software used for internal communication (patient case conferences pre, during, and post virtual patient appointment)
Zoom	Videoconferencing software used for internal communication: clinical operations and workflow and team meetings to review clinical care
WhatsApp	Team chat used for internal communication: COVID-19 updates, technology troubleshooting, other business

Table 2. Type and numbers of virtual care appointments

Type of appointment	Virtual care	Face-to-face care
Interdisciplinary new	4	2 (1 patient with language barrier, 1 with cancer pain)
Interdisciplinary follow up	13	0
Rapid Access CRPS Clinic^a	2	0
Rehabilitation services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, rehab assistant)	35	0
Psychology/psychiatry/advanced practice nurse	33	0

^a An interdisciplinary clinic aimed at assessing patients who are suspected to have CRPS within one week of receiving referral.

CRPS = complex regional pain syndrome.