Hudson Bay emergency room implemented virtual physician program

Implementing the virtual physician program at the Hudson Bay Health Care Facility provides residents of Hudson Bay and the area with stable access to emergency room (ER) services.

The virtual physician program supports the Hudson Bay health-care team in addressing the immediate medical needs of patients presenting to the ER during periods when local physicians cannot provide on-site coverage.

The virtual physician program is a temporary measure that helps sustain and support access to emergency health services while the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to stabilize health human resources, particularly in rural and remote communities.

Using the existing technology of HealthLine 811, the program connects the local health-care team to an ER physician located elsewhere in the province to continue safely and effectively assessing, triaging, and providing treatment to patients in the ER.

Hudson Bay joins many other rural communities, like Porcupine Plain and Kelvington, that have utilized the virtual physician program to support safe, ongoing access to ER services.

Individuals requiring emergency services should call 9-1-1. For non-urgent health-related questions, call 8-1-1, which directs them to the 24/7 HealthLine service.