Patients at the Grimshaw/Berwyn and District Community Health Centre’s emergency department will receive enhanced care this week as Alberta Health Services (AHS) introduces its Virtual Emergency Physician (VEP) program.
This initiative connects on-site clinical staff with experienced emergency physicians via telephone or videoconference, ensuring timely support for non-life-threatening cases when no on-site physician is available.
The virtual physician collaborates local staff, consults with patients, orders tests and medications, and manages patient transfers or discharges.
Dr. Jane Ojedokun, Medical Director for AHS North Zone, expressed gratitude for the program’s support from staff, physicians, and EMS partners, noting that a recent six-month pilot led to improvements enhancing patient and provider experiences.
Similar virtual physician models have proven effective in other provinces, ensuring patients receive necessary care promptly.
AHS continues to prioritize recruiting on-site physicians, with the VEP program serving as a temporary measure to maintain emergency services during staffing challenges.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
