Virtual physician program now supporting 24/7 emergency care at three collaborative emergency centres

The virtual physician program will help maintain emergency room services at the Collaborative Emergency Centres (CECs) in Canora, Maidstone, and Shaunavon.

Beginning April 1, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA’s) virtual physician program will provide overnight emergency physician services to the three CECs as they join 21 other rural communities that are benefiting from enhanced access to emergency health services.

CECs use an innovative model of care that enhances access to both primary health care and 24/7 emergency health care. During the daytime (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.), primary and emergency care is provided by health-care staff with on-site support from local physicians in the community. Overnight (8 p.m. – 8 a.m.), emergent care is provided by either registered nurses or a registered nurse and paramedic team, with virtual support from a physician.

Overnight physician coverage at the CECs in Canora, Maidstone, and Shaunavon was previously provided remotely by Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) physicians. Now, all three locations will be supported by the SHA’s virtual physician program.

The virtual physician program works by using the existing technology of HealthLine 811 to connect the local health-care team to an emergency department physician via voice and video. Patients are triaged, assessed and either treated on-site, provided with appropriate follow-up care arrangements, or immediately transported to an alternate care location based on their care needs.

The SHA extends its gratitude to STARS physicians for their dedicated service to the CECs, ensuring that residents in Canora, Maidstone, and Shaunavon had uninterrupted access to safe, effective, and timely emergency health 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.