The OurCare Report and its findings

A recently released report examining the state of primary care in Canada has findings that directly address the future of virtual care. 

Tara Kiran, the study’s principal investigator, led the research, which is the largest-ever engagement of the public about primary care in Canada.  
 
The OurCare final report contains insights from a survey of more than 9,000 people in Canada, and those gleaned from conversations with more than 350 members of the public during five provincial panels and 10 community roundtables. 

The report, published in February 2024, reveals that Canadians would like: 

• Virtual care expanded. The report states that those surveyed want virtual care that is “publicly owned and accountable, integrated with in-person care, and improves accessibility and equity, for example, in rural and remote communities.” 
• Access to their own health records, “while also guaranteeing privacy, data security and portability of their records.” 
• Virtual care that’s “integrated with in-person care.” This means “governments should ensure access to affordable, reliable internet and public infrastructure that enables people to access virtual care.”