Starting this week, patients visiting four Interior Health (IH) emergency departments (EDs) may receive care from a physician working virtually. This is part of IH LINK-ED (Local Integrated Network for Emergency Departments), a new virtual care pilot designed to modernize emergency care services for rural communities.
“Integrating virtual care into emergency services is a proven approach already delivering results in communities across B.C.,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By expanding this technology into four communities, we’re supporting front-line staff, helping our health-care teams reach more patients, and making sure people in rural communities can access high-quality care when they need it.”
IH LINK-ED introduces a blended model of in-person and virtual physician support for patients needing emergency care overnight. This approach is designed to provide consistent access to emergency care in rural areas and increase work-life balance for medical staff. The four participating hospitals include Lillooet Hospital, Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital (Clearwater), Arrow Lakes Hospital (Nakusp) and Princeton General Hospital.
Care teams at these sites will start piloting the new model a few nights per week, while continuing with regular in-person care on other nights. Full seven day per week implementation is anticipated to start in the new year.
“Patient safety remains our key focus, and that is why we continue to approach the modernization of rural emergency services with care and consideration,” said Sylvia Weir, IH president and CEO. “The soft roll out gives our care teams and patients time to familiarize with the new process and share their feedback, making sure everything works seamlessly before we expand to full implementation.”
As part of this pilot, an emergency physician provides overnight in-person care at their community hospital while offering virtual support to up to three other emergency departments (EDs). When patients walk into an ED, they will be assessed by an on-site emergency-trained nurse, who determines the level of care needed.
- For mild or less urgent concerns, the nurse will contact the physician working virtually to review patient condition and guide the treatment. Secure video or phone connections may be used.
- For critical, life-threatening emergencies, an in-person physician remains on standby in each community.
"Having used virtual care at Arrow Lakes Hospital, I believe other rural communities can benefit from this collaborative model," said Colin Watson, clinical practice educator in Nakusp. Through the provincial Virtual Emergency Room Rural assistance (VERRa) program, overnight virtual physician support has been used safely two nights per week in this community.
"The partnership between nursing and physicians is really important to keeping care safe and accessible,” Watson added. “We’re eager to trial a model that eases physician workload while letting us connect with colleagues across the Interior region."
Shared overnight coverage across multiple sites means more sustainable work life and a community of collaboration among rural physicians. Emergency‑trained nurses are supported to work to the full scope of their training, with immediate access to physician expertise when needed. The service also fosters collaboration among rural hospitals, reducing isolation and strengthening relationships between care teams.
To follow along the project or share questions and feedback, community members can sign up at https://engageih.ca/link-ed.
Feedback from partners and the public will inform the ongoing development of this pilot project.
