MindSense Tablet Lending Program: Making Virtual IMEs Work & How MindSense Supports Access

Assessments are increasingly being delivered virtually, giving survivors across Canada greater flexibility and reducing the need for travel. But not all virtual assessments are created equal. The quality of the process - and ultimately the usefulness of the report - depends on having the right tools, the right environment, and the right preparation in place. Without these, important details can be lost, and the credibility of the assessment can be put at risk.

What’s Required for a Virtual IME

Virtual IMEs mirror the same standards as in-person sessions: confidentiality, professionalism, and clinical rigor. However, the delivery method adds some technical requirements:

• Reliable video and audio quality – Medical experts need to clearly observe, hear, and interact with examinees.
  
  
• Secure telehealth platforms – MindSense uses Zoom for Healthcare and Doxy.Me, both compliant with Canadian privacy standards (PIPEDA/PHIPA).
  
  
• Stable internet connection – Connectivity interruptions can compromise both the flow and the reliability of the assessment.
  
  
• Proper device – Some types of assessments - particularly vocational IMEs or more detailed evaluations where testing is involved - cannot be effectively conducted on a smartphone. Small screens, lack of a keyboard, limited camera angles, and poor sound quality can reduce accuracy, cause delays and add stress for examinees.

Simply put: while a smartphone might suffice for a quick video call, it isn’t best practice for a formal medico-legal assessment.

Why Some Virtuals Require More Than a Phone

Vocational assessments, functional observations, and in-depth psychiatric evaluations often require:

• A larger screen so both assessor and examinee can review documents, questionnaires, or visual materials together.
  
  
• A stable camera setup that captures facial expressions, posture, and other non-verbal cues.
  
  
• Hands-free use so survivors can interact naturally without holding or adjusting a device.
  
  

Without this, the quality and admissibility of the assessment can be called into question.

How MindSense Removes Barriers: Our Tablet Lending Service

We recognize that not everyone has access to a reliable laptop or tablet at home or access to reliable internet.

To ensure equitable access, MindSense offers a tablet lending program for examinees attending virtual IMEs.

Download our Tablet Instructions for Survivors

Here’s how it works:

• Pre-configured device – A MindSense tablet, preloaded with the required telehealth platform, is shipped directly to the examinee. No setup, passwords, or technical expertise required.
  
  
• Automatic internet connection – Devices connect via built-in LTE, removing the need for home Wi-Fi.
  
  
• Privacy and security – Devices are used only for the assessment. After return, they are factory-reset and fully wiped in compliance with privacy laws.
  
  
• Seamless return – Prepaid packaging and courier pickup are arranged; examinees don’t need to visit a shipping centre.
  
  
• Support included – A MindSense staff member ensures examinees connect successfully at the start of the session, then exits the call for privacy.
  
  

This service ensures that technology never becomes a barrier to completing an assessment.

Supporting Fair and Accessible IMEs

By offering device loans, MindSense ensures that assessments are not only clinically sound but also accessible to all examinees - regardless of their personal technology situation. For legal teams, this means confidence that the IME process is both fair and defensible.

Virtual IMEs should meet the same standards as in-person assessments: clarity, fairness, and reliability. That requires the right technology - and when examinees don’t have it, MindSense steps in to provide it. Our tablet lending program is just one way we ensure that every assessment is delivered with integrity, accessibility, and clinical precision.

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