Building a Hybrid Future: Health-care Professionals’ Perspectives on Virtual Pediatric Diabetes Care in British Columbia

OBJECTIVES: Virtual care adoption in pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D) accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little is known about the perspectives of pediatric health-care professionals (HCPs). To identify how HCPs navigate and are impacted by pediatric diabetes virtual care, we explored their experiences with virtual care in British Columbia (BC). METHODS: The study team purposively recruited HCPs from across the province. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 32 pediatric HCPs across BC (September 2023 to September 2024). Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis informed by the BC Health Quality Matrix. RESULTS: HCPs valued virtual visits for flexibility, safety, accessibility, and efficiency. However, challenges included rapport loss, inability to perform physical assessments, and concerns related to inequities in technology access. Virtual care impacted HCPs' well-being in complex ways, with some reporting benefits but others facing challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric HCPs view virtual care as both beneficial and challenging, recognizing it as a valuable supplement, not a replacement, for in-person visits. As our understanding of these tensions deepens, addressing care gaps and implementing informed strategies will be essential for sustainable, high-quality virtual diabetes care and broader system integration.