Developing Online Consultation App for Doctors: Features, Costs & Compliance in 2025

Virtual care isn’t some brand-new idea. 

Canada had the tech for online consultations years ago, but adoption was slow. 

Before 2020, very few clinics actually used it. Only about 1 in 10 Canadians had ever had a virtual visit, even though most people wanted one.

Compared to places like the UK and the US, Canada was way behind in offering virtual care platforms with tools like appointment chats, prescription refills, or visit summaries. 

And it wasn’t because of lack of interest — patients were ready. 

The real problem? Doctors weren’t getting paid properly for virtual visits. 

Systems didn’t talk to each other. And every province had its own complicated rules.

Then came COVID-19 — and everything changed. 

Almost overnight, clinics and hospitals were forced to go digital. Video visits, online checkups, remote consultation software — it all took off. 

By April 2020, about 60–70% of all visits in Canada were virtual. Now, even after the pandemic peak, virtual care is here to stay. 

Doctors across the country are offering it regularly. Patients expect it. And governments are backing it with funding and policy changes.

That’s where online consultation apps for doctors come in. 

These aren’t just Zoom calls with patients. We’re talking about complete platforms built for healthcare — video visits, e-prescriptions, EMR integration, patient messaging, and more.

Why Online Consultation Apps are Becoming Essential for Canadian Physicians

Online consultation apps are no longer just “nice to have.” They’re now essential tools for modern medical practice — especially in Canada.

Here’s why: patients expect it.

A CMA survey found that 42% of patients who used virtual care during the pandemic want it to be their first point of contact going forward. 

They like the convenience, speed, and flexibility. And with the rise of virtual care platforms in Canada, this expectation is only growing.

Access to care is also a big win.

Canada’s size makes it hard for many people to see a doctor in person. Telemedicine apps for doctors help close that gap. 

Patients in rural areas, or those with mobility issues, can get medical care without long travel. 

In fact, some reports show same-day or next-day bookings are more common on virtual platforms than in traditional clinics.

It helps doctors too.

Online consultations reduce no-shows and save time. One study suggested that replacing just 4% of in-person visits with virtual ones could save Canadians 8.8 million hours a year. 

Many physicians say using a doctor video consultation app helps them manage their time better — and even feel less burnt out.

And modern apps are built to support your workflow.

The best tools offer EMR integration for virtual care, easy e-prescriptions, and secure patient messaging. 

Over 70% of doctors in a 2021 survey said it was easy to add virtual care into their routine when the tools were well integrated.

So no, virtual care isn’t replacing in-person visits. It’s making care more flexible, accessible, and efficient — for everyone involved.

Core Features to Look for in an Online Consultation App (With a Canadian Lens)

Choosing the right online consultation app isn’t just about video calls. It needs to fit your clinic’s needs, follow Canadian privacy laws, and be easy for both patients and providers.

Here’s a simple checklist to guide you:

Must-Have Features for Physicians

• Secure video calls
  High-quality video is a must — it feels more personal than phone calls and works especially well for specialists. The platform should be easy to use, even for patients who aren’t tech-savvy. Bonus if it includes screen sharing.
  
• Private messaging
  You’ll need a secure way to chat with patients between visits — for follow-ups, appointment details, or triage. These messages should be encrypted and ideally tied to your EMR or patient portal.
  
• Easy scheduling
  Patients (or your staff) should be able to book, cancel, and reschedule visits with ease. Automatic reminders via text or email can cut down on no-shows.
  
• e-Prescribing
  You should be able to send prescriptions directly to pharmacies. Look for tools that connect with PrescribeIT™ or provincial networks.
  
• Patient portal
  Let patients see their appointments, message you, fill out forms, and maybe even check test results — all in one place.
  
• User-friendly design
  The app should be clean, simple, and work on all devices — laptops, phones, tablets. Think easy logins, big buttons, and accessible features like larger text.
  
• Virtual waiting room
  This helps you manage the flow. Staff can check in patients, verify info, and prep them before the call.
  
• Secure file sharing
  You should be able to send documents (like referrals or instructions), and patients should be able to send you images (like a rash or home readings) — securely.

Privacy & Compliance (The Canadian Way)

Any app you use must follow PIPEDA — Canada’s privacy law — and possibly your province’s health privacy laws too (like PHIPA in Ontario).

Here’s what that means in simple terms:

• You must get clear consent before collecting or sharing any health info.
  
• Only collect what you need — no extra details.
  
• Keep data safe and secure (encryption is a must).
  
• Give patients access to their info if they ask.
  
• Be clear about how their data is used — and who’s responsible for keeping it safe.

If your clinic is in provinces like Ontario, Alberta, or BC, you’ll also need to follow local privacy rules. And if your app handles data across provinces, PIPEDA still applies.

The EMR Integration Advantage: Connecting with Telus, Accuro, Oscar, and Others

When it comes to online consultation apps, integration with your existing EMR system is a game changer. It’s essential for smooth and efficient virtual care delivery.

Why Integration Matters

Did you know that 95% of Canadian physicians use electronic records? But here’s the catch: 73% of doctors say that the lack of integration between their virtual care tools and EMRs causes major headaches. 

These include wasting time searching for patient info, having to enter the same data multiple times, and dealing with fragmented records — all of which contribute to physician burnout.

On the flip side, when your online consultation app integrates seamlessly with your EMR, everything becomes much easier. It creates a unified workflow, keeps your patient records in one place, and ultimately boosts efficiency.

Key Canadian EMR Systems

Not all EMRs are the same. Before selecting an online consultation app, you’ll want to check if it works with your specific EMR. Here are a few of the big names in Canada’s EMR market:

• TELUS Health
  They offer several EMR systems like Med Access, PS Suite, and Wolf EMR. TELUS also has its own integrated "EMR Virtual Visit" tool and many third-party add-ons.
  
• QHR Technologies (now part of Loblaw)
  Known for Accuro EMR, QHR offers Medeo Virtual Care, which is designed to work specifically with Accuro.
  
• WELL Health Technologies
  Their OSCAR Pro is based on the open-source OSCAR McMaster EMR. It’s compatible with other third-party tools for e-referrals, e-prescribing, and more.

What Makes Good Integration?

It’s not just about launching an external app from your EMR. True integration means data flows both ways. 

The app should pull patient info from your EMR, and after the virtual visit, it should send notes, communication logs, and other details back into the EMR.

For smooth data exchange, look for apps that use technical standards like HL7 or FHIR, which make integration easier and more reliable.

Build vs. Buy: What’s Better for Your Virtual Care Platform?

If you're thinking about launching a telemedicine app or a virtual care platform, the big decision is:

Should you build your own solution, or buy one off the shelf?

Buying a SaaS App (Like Maple, Medeo, or OnCall Health)

Buying an existing telehealth software for doctors is often quicker and easier to get started. 

Platforms like Maple or Medeo offer standard features like doctor-patient video consultation, ePrescriptions, and secure messaging — often in a HIPAA-compliant telehealth app format.

But these come with limitations. Customization is minimal. Integration with your EMR system might not be complete unless you’re using the exact EMR they were designed for (like TELUS EMRs). 

If you're using Accuro, Oscar, or other Canadian EMRs, syncing workflows can be a hassle.

Also, you’re bound by the vendor’s roadmap and support structure — which means less flexibility when your needs evolve.

Building a Custom Telehealth Solution

Going custom takes more time and investment, yes. But it gives you full control.

With a custom telehealth solution, you can:

• Integrate directly with any EMR system
  
• Offer secure video consultation for doctors
  
• Build a tailor-made online doctor appointment system
  
• Create features aligned with remote patient care workflows
  
• Comply fully with Canadian healthcare data privacy laws (PHIPA/PIPEDA)

You can even extend the solution into ePrescribing software for physicians and layer in advanced tools like clinical documentation automation or AI-based triaging.

In short — custom development is ideal if you want a telehealth platform that fits your practice like a glove.

Our Take

Off-the-shelf platforms work best for small practices with standard workflows.

But if you're a large clinic, need EMR integrated telemedicine, or want your tech to grow with you, custom healthcare app development in Canada is a better long-term bet.

At SyS Creations, we help Canadian clinics build scalable, secure, and intuitive mobile apps for remote patient care — from doctor communication apps to full-blown virtual clinics.

Explore the images of the telemedicine app we recently developed for one of our clients.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Virtual Care Platform in Canada?

Let’s talk numbers — because understanding the cost is key when planning any virtual care solution.

For an MVP (minimum viable product), development can start around CAD $60,000 and go up to $300,000+. 

If you're looking to build a full-featured platform from the start, it could range between CAD $150,000 to $750,000 or more.

Why the wide range? A few major factors come into play:

• The experience and location of your development team
  
• Which platforms you're building for (web, iOS, Android, or all)
  
• The number and complexity of features
  
• And most importantly — the Canadian compliance landscape

Meeting privacy regulations like PIPEDA, PHIPA, or HIA takes time and expertise. So does integrating with major EMR systems like Telus Health, AccuroEMR, and Oscar EMR. 

These are often non-negotiables for real-world use, and they do add to the build time and budget.

Also, keep in mind the ongoing costs after launch — hosting, updates, support, and keeping up with security and compliance changes. 

These can add up to 15–25% of your initial budget per year.

Estimated Software Development Hourly Rates by Role & Region (CAD, 2025 Estimates)

Where Online Consultation Tech is Headed in Canada — And What to Keep in Mind

If you're planning to build or invest in a virtual care platform, it's good to know where the tech is heading. Here’s a quick peek at some exciting trends in healthcare technologies shaping the future of online doctor consultations in Canada.

1. AI is Coming – Slowly, But Surely

AI is still pretty new in virtual care, but it’s picking up. Only 7% of Canadian doctors used it in 2024 (up from just 2% in 2021). So, what can AI do?

• AI Triage Tools: Chatbots that ask patients basic questions before the appointment.
  
• Smart Scheduling: Automatically book patients based on urgency and doctor availability.
  
• Decision Support: Help doctors spot potential issues, like drug interactions.
  
• AI Scribes: Listen to the consult and write the notes for you. Saves time.
  
• Predictive Insights: Spot at-risk patients early with health data analysis.

Cool, right? But AI also raises questions about data privacy, patient consent, and accuracy. 

So, if you’re building a HIPAA-compliant telehealth app or want to add AI clinical documentation automation, you need to do it the right way.

2. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

RPM is about collecting health data — like heart rate, glucose, weight — from patients at home. It’s especially helpful for chronic disease care and post-surgery follow-ups.

• Why it matters: You get real-time updates. That means faster interventions and fewer hospital visits.
  
• What’s tricky: Data privacy (hello, PHIPA/PIPEDA), EMR integration, patient tech literacy, and getting doctors paid for using it.

If you’re thinking of adding RPM to your telemedicine app, you’ll want it to work smoothly with your EMR and be easy for patients to use.

3. Better Data Sharing is the Foundation

Let’s be honest — doctors spend way too much time tracking down information. The future of virtual care depends on better interoperability.

• The goal: Share patient data securely between EMRs, labs, pharmacies, and online doctor appointment systems.
  
• What’s happening: Canada Health Infoway is pushing for national data-sharing standards. Ontario is already using tools like HRM, OLIS, and DHDR for smoother data flow.

If you're building a custom telehealth solution, make sure it plays well with the Canadian healthcare ecosystem. 

Take a look at our 17 proven steps to build a healthcare app that actually works.