CAMH enhances virtual capacity to respond to demand for mental health services

04/05/2020

As Canadians grapple with the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cisco Canada and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canadas largest mental health teaching hospital, are announcing today the successful expansion of virtual care to meet the demand for mental health services.

Telehealth innovation and expansion have long been a priority for CAMH and through a partnership with Cisco, CAMH was able to drastically increase the number of virtual visits it can offer to patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year the hospital provided virtual care to over 3,000 patients from over 550 communities across Ontario. From March to April 2020 alone, CAMH's virtual care visits increased from approximately 350 per month to almost 3,000 per month, an increase of over 750 per cent.

While we are apart right now, no one is alone and technology is helping to keep populations and patients connected during this difficult time. This is a pivotal moment for a new frontier of telemental health care in Canada CAMH is reshaping how we deliver care now and into the future, said Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO of CAMH. There is no going back. The adoption of virtual health platforms will be a permanent and growing fixture of the health care system, and be offered as an accessible, flexible and secure mental health care option for patient care going forward.

In March, Cisco's highly secure Webex technology was rapidly deployed across the organization, enabling the training of upwards of 400 CAMH clinicians from 50 in February to deliver virtual care and 1,500 more virtual visits in April. Patients have more flexibility scheduling appointments and follow-ups, shorter wait times, seamless communication with clinicians and the ability to receive care securely no matter where they live.

Cisco understands how critical technology can be in bridging gaps, breaking down barriers and connecting the unconnected. This pandemic has fueled the digital revolution in mental health services it's been a catalyst for delivering remote care at scale and helping those in need get access during a difficult time, said Rola Dagher, President and CEO of Cisco Canada. By working with world-class partners like CAMH, we can evolve the way healthcare services are delivered in Canada and around the world.

The expansion of telemental health capacity since the start of the pandemic builds on CAMH's long-standing record as a leader in this area. With strong groundwork in place, the hospital was well-positioned to rapidly adapt policies and transform service delivery.

Mental health care looks fundamentally different today than it did three months ago, and yet at its core we continue to strive for compassionate, quality care. We have made incredible strides in our ability to deliver virtual care, accelerating our digital transformation and enhancing our ability to provide care to more patients in more communities, said Dr. Allison Crawford, CAMH. Through innovation and technology, we have an opportunity to reimagine and rebuild a broader system of virtual care that is safe, secure, flexible and accessible.

Over a two-year partnership, Cisco Canada has contributed nearly $2 million in technology, funding and services to support CAMH research, develop and build new models of care.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products, and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrows digital opportunity today. Discover more at newsroom.cisco.com and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Ciscos trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

LINK:	https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&artic...
	See more stories from cisco

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026