Patients in rural areas of British Columbia’s Interior region can now receive emergency care from a virtual doctor as part of a cutting-edge pilot project to revamp healthcare services.
Interior Health, the governing authority, has announced the launch of the pilot at four hospitals in Lillooet, Clearwater, Nakusp, and Princeton. These hospitals have faced intermittent closures due to staffing challenges.
Initially, the virtual care teams will operate a few nights a week, gradually scaling up to provide services seven evenings a week from the new year onwards. Under this model, a physician will offer in-person care at one facility while remotely supporting three other emergency departments. Additionally, an emergency nurse will assess the required level of care for facilities without on-site doctors.
For critical situations, an in-person physician will be on standby in each community to ensure prompt response.
Interior Health President Sylvia Weir emphasizes the importance of patient safety and gradual implementation to gather feedback and refine the process.
The hospital in Nakusp has already successfully integrated the program two nights a week, showcasing the benefits of this innovative approach.
This novel way of sharing physician coverage across multiple sites not only enhances the work-life balance of healthcare professionals but also fosters collaboration among rural doctors, leading to improved access to specialized care for rural residents.