Toronto-based RBC Insurance Services Inc. is embarking on a program to provide personalized support to clients who are navigating the health-care system after being diagnosed with an illness.
The initiative is the result of a partnership with Richmond Hill, Ont.-based Medical Confidence, which would provide support to RBC Insurance clients who hold individual disability and critical illness policies or are clients of the firm’s group short- and long-term disability programs.
The services included within this initiative include one-on-one support from a registered nurse; assistance through any referral process for a specialist; and help with scheduling and preparing for appointments.
“We see clients unable to work or even manage their daily activities as they struggle with their medical conditions,” says Cathy Preston, vice president of individual markets with RBC Insurance in a statement. “By actively getting involved and providing hands on support and guidance, we are reducing recovery times and patients are more engaged in their treatment and overall health.”
Another element of the program involves assistance in finding appropriate and available specialists for the client’s specific illness. Medical Confidence has a database network of more than 6,000 specialists across the country that cover health-care conditions such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, surgeries, coronary disease and orthopedics.
“The majority of Canadians do not know what to do or where to turn when faced with a serious medical condition. The ever-increasing wait times have become the norm, making it challenging even for primary care practitioners to find an available specialist,” says Angela Johnson, president of Medical Confidence, in a statement. “Through an innovative navigation platform we provide RBC clients a customized and caring approach to obtaining the right treatment at the right time.”
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