{
  "abstract": "Introduction\n\nVirtual care is expected to play an increasingly important role in the Canadian healthcare system, with the 2023-2024 Health Canada Departmental Plan outlining the advancement of digital health solutions as a focal point. However, key outcomes of transitioning from traditional in-person healthcare appointments to a virtual model of care are not yet well-described. Here, we apply the Sustainability in Quality Improvement (SusQI) framework to patients seen in a novel pediatric virtual urgent care (VUC) program to quantify the environmental, economic, and social impacts of virtual care.Methods\n\nWe conducted a retrospective analysis of provincial pediatric VUC visits staffed by pediatric emergency physicians and nurse practitioners during the 2020-2025 fiscal years. We focused on three key metrics: (1) economic value, measured as travel costs avoided; (2) environmental value, measured in fuel saved (L) and carbon emissions reduced (kg CO₂ eq); and (3) social value, assessed using Ontario Marginalization (ON-Marg) Index quintiles.Results\n\nA total of 12,900 virtual visits were completed during the study period, 99.9% via the Webex platform. Net savings totaled $998,100. Environmental benefits included 128,700 L of fuel saved and 384,200 kg CO₂ eq emissions avoided. Summary ON-Marg Index scores were similar between groups (2.87 for in-person emergency department (ED) visits; 2.91 for virtual visits). Data collected between July 2023-April 2025 show that 10.6% (353) of visits resulted in subsequent in-person ED presentation.Conclusion\n\nVirtual urgent care resulted in significant financial and environmental savings per visit. These benefits included reduced financial and time burdens for families, lower hospital-related expenditures, improved environmental performance, and diversion of low-acuity cases from the ED. Comparable ON-Marg scores between patients seen virtually and in-person suggest accessibility across socioeconomic groups. These findings indicate that pediatric VUC is a viable complement to traditional care, providing meaningful cost and environmental savings while ensuring equitable access.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "McMaster University, Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.",
    "Western University, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, London, Ontario, Canada.",
    "London Health Sciences Centre, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, London, Ontario, Canada.",
    "Child Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.",
    "Western University, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Paediatrics, London, Ontario, Canada."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Emma Lim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Julie Strychowsky"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Anna C Gunz"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Sheena Belisle"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e51tpxzb9qck3.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.5811/westjem.54076",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13660618",
  "id": "e51tpxzb9qck3",
  "issns": [
    "1936-900X",
    "1936-9018"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900940",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7171685517",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13660618?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13660618",
  "pmid": "42900940",
  "published": "2026-07-28",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e51tpxzb9qck3.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:41Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42900940",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900940"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2739|Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Sustainability in Quality Improvement: Outcomes of a Novel Pediatric Virtual Urgent Care in Ontario, Canada.",
  "title_text": "Sustainability in Quality Improvement: Outcomes of a Novel Pediatric Virtual Urgent Care in Ontario, Canada.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e51tpxzb9qck3",
  "venue": "The western journal of emergency medicine",
  "versions": []
}