Answer from OIPC:
PIPEDA and PIPA are substantially similar. However, it remains each organization’s responsibility to ensure the platform is PIPA compliant.

PABC / CPTBC note: FOIPPA is separate privacy legislation governing public practice and does have substantial differences from PIPEDA.

It is likely that you already have sufficient bandwidth if you operate in an urban centre. At a minimum, your connection should be capable of 5 Mbps, but more modern systems are now suggesting 15 Mbps or more. Most high-speed internet connections will have no trouble with this, even though wireless connections. For example, note that Telus’s basic fibreoptic high speed hook up in the Lower Mainland is a way-more-than-necessary 150 Mbps wirelessly. As you move away from urban centres the connectivity may become more of an issue, particularly on the patient side.

In all likelihood, no. Most modern laptops and tablets purchased in the last few years will suffice, as long as they have a camera and microphone. Using a phone is not recommended for physiotherapy virtual care as the small screen size inhibits the visual observation of movement, etc. that is very important to assessment.

Not really. While you will inevitably encounter occasional difficulties (as we all do with technology), the level of digital literacy you require to operate in society generally will allow you to participate in providing virtual care. Of course, you will encounter some frustrations as you initiate service, but as you do more, it becomes quite easy.

Treating a patient in another province is possible. To do so, the PT has to be licensed not only in their own home jurisdiction but also in the jurisdiction where the patient is located. See CPTBC bold text, first paragraph on this page.

Many jurisdictions have temporary or telehealth licenses for this purpose so a PT is not paying full registration fees for this:

While most modern email systems are paying increasing attention to privacy and security, there are still risks in using email for patient communications. The Doctors of BC Doctors’ Technology Office has recommended the following statement for physicians to include on general emails to their patients and we recommended something similar be used.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of information transmitted through e-mail. Please be aware of this limitation when communicating with us through email.

Virtual care visits will often take longer than their in-person equivalents and even experienced physiotherapists will build in extra time for these assessment sessions. A common formula is to increase your in-person visit time by approximately 1/3 (for example, a 30-minute in-person assessment, becomes a 40-minute virtual care assessment). However, this will vary by the experience and practice patterns of the physiotherapist.

For example, a patient who would like me to observe his perineum to see if he is contracting his pelvic floor correctly.

Due to COVID-19, there are a great many physiotherapists entering virtual care practice with very little experience. We have encouraged significant caution in the use of recording either images or video as there is enough to be concerned about without adding this layer of complexity. Recording increases the potential for privacy issues, primarily due to the fact that recording now has to be stored and secured. However, if there is a good clinical reason to do so, a recording can be done with an appropriate explanation to the client and express consent for this purpose.