Maple Creek benefiting from virtual physician program

Residents in Maple Creek and the area are benefiting from enhanced access to safe, high-quality, patient-centered emergency care, thanks to the virtual physician program,

The virtual physician program is a temporary measure that helps sustain and support access to emergency health services while the SHA continues to stabilize health human resources, particularly in rural and remote communities. As part of the provincial government’s Health Human Resource (HHR) Action Plan, recruitment and retention of health-care workers remains a priority.

The virtual physician program supports the health-care team in addressing the emergent medical needs of patients presenting to the ER at the Southwest Integrated Health Care Facility in Maple Creek, during periods when local physicians are not available to provide on-site coverage and recruitment efforts are underway to fill provider vacancies.

Using the existing technology of HealthLine 811, the program provides the health-care team with remote access to a physician located elsewhere in the province to continue safely and effectively assessing, triaging, and providing treatment to patients in the ER.

Maple Creek joins several other rural communities utilizing virtual physician, like Leader and Herbert, to enhance access to emergency room services.

Individuals requiring emergency services should call 9-1-1. Non-urgent health-related questions may be directed to the 24/7 HealthLine service by calling 8-1-1.