Building bridges

In the heart of neighbourhoods and the tranquil setting of community libraries, vital digital health education is reaching those who need it most, delivered with much collaboration, creativity and ingenuity.

The joint Virtual Care Program of St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) and London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), in partnership with the London Public Library and the Middlesex County Library, is offering “Virtual Health Care 101”, a free educational workshop to help people access health care without going to a clinic or doctor’s office. The goal of the workshop is to promote equitable access to virtual care, especially for those facing challenges using this convenient and effective form of health care.    

Every day across Southwestern Ontario, about 1,000 patients of St. Joseph’s and LHSC receive care without leaving their home. These patients are benefitting from the expanding options of virtual care for numerous programs and services within the two hospital organizations.  

But for many, virtual care is daunting or simply out of reach due to inaccessible technology or lack of awareness, skills or confidence to tap into remote health care. The Virtual Care Program set out to tackle the problem by opening doors to digital literacy for anyone interested - in their own neighbourhood. The library workshop helps participants understand just what virtual care is, how to access it, available resources and supports, and provides an opportunity to practice for a video appointment. The overall goal is to reduce the digital divide.  

Virtual Care Program team members Kate Kingswell and Gabriele Davey, who developed and facilitate the workshop, are proud to lead the partnership initiative.  

“Partnering with libraries brings virtual care education into trusted community spaces with existing resources to support digital inclusion, such as free Wi-Fi, bookable spaces and device access,” explains Kingswell, virtual care partner engagement facilitator.

“Virtual care was so successful for me and my wife Ruth, who lived with dementia, that I was thrilled to participate in the co-design of this incredible program. It was an act of gratitude.”
-Maggie Perquin, virtual care patient partner

Davey, virtual care specialist, adds that “by providing hands-on training, raising awareness, and sharing resources and supports, we're equipping community members with the tools they need to confidently and equitably access virtual care. The libraries have been incredible partners—sharing their spaces, promoting the workshops, and dedicating their time and resources to make this initiative possible.”  

The Virtual Health Care 101 session was co-designed with library staff, virtual care patient partners, and community partner organizations.  

“Partnering with libraries to support virtual care access for community members who might otherwise be left out is a no-brainer,” says Maggie Perquin, virtual care patient partner. “Virtual care was so successful for me and my wife Ruth, who lived with dementia, that I was thrilled to participate in the co-design of this incredible program. It was an act of gratitude.”

Last fall, 12 workshops were delivered across eight branches in London and Middlesex County, with a total of nearly 80 participants. With feedback from participants as well as library staff overwhelmingly positive, an additional seven workshops will be held in May and June. See below for dates and locations.  

“The impact of hosting the class in the fall on the Beacock Branch and Beacock community has been without measure,” says Christopher Knapp, London’s Beacock Branch librarian. “It is important we continue to run a program like this in communities with high concentrations of elderly or marginalized groups so that they can be informed and up-to-date with how to keep on top of their own medical care.”

While the library system is key to connecting community members to services, “hospitals are not one we have actively tapped into,” adds Debra Franke, Byron Branch Supervisor.

"Partnering with the St. Joseph’s and LHSC Virtual Care Program has enabled us to meet a need within our communities that library staff did not have the capacity to do on their own. The hands-on technology support and detailed knowledge of the medical system shared by the Virtual Care Program staff was invaluable to our patrons."
-Aimee Sparzynski, Technical Services Coordinator with Middlesex County Library

"As health and medical services are vital to the wellbeing of our community members, we are thrilled for this partnership to support health connections through our libraries' learning spaces and digital resources, and by promoting health literacy and awareness,” she says.

In Middlesex County, the workshop has also been highly beneficial in filling a gap, says Aimee Sparzynski, Technical Services Coordinator with Middlesex County Library.  

"Partnering with the St. Joseph’s and LHSC Virtual Care Program has enabled us to meet a need within our communities that library staff did not have the capacity to do on their own. The hands-on technology support and detailed knowledge of the medical system shared by the Virtual Care Program staff was invaluable to our patrons."

Coming to a library near you

Upcoming Virtual Health Care 101 workshops – registration required

London

• Byron Branch, May 1, from 10 – 6:30 pm
• Bostwick Branch, May 29, from 5 – 6:30 pm
• Jalna Branch, June 11, from 2 – 3:30 pm
• Cherryhill Branch, June 5, from 2 – 3:30 pm

To register, visit: Library Programs & Events | London Public Library

Middlesex County  

• Komoka Branch, May 8, from 2 – 3:30 pm
  To register, visit:  Virtual Health Care 101 - Middlesex County Library
• Thorndale Branch, May 15, from 1 – 2:30 pm
  To register, visit:  Virtual Health Care 101 - Middlesex County Library
• Strathroy Branch, May 22, from 10 – 1130 am 
  To register, visit:  Virtual Care 101 - Middlesex County Library