Patients in some B.C. Interior communities that need overnight emergency support could have less reason to worry thanks to the help of virtual aids.
Interior Health (IH) and the Ministry of Health are looking to deliver more consistent health-care access amid numerous unplanned service interruptions this year, with a mix of virtual and on-site staffing proposed as a pilot project for community hospitals in Nakusp, Clearwater, Lillooet and Princeton.
These four hospitals have comparable size and low volumes of overnight patients, but around-the-clock support from the Virtual Emergency Room Rural assistance (VERRa) model would allow physicians to share responsibilities and maintain access to care while also preserving their own wellness.
“Virtual support has proven its value across many areas of health care, and integrating it with local emergency teams will give people in these four communities stronger, more connected care,” Health Minister Josie Osborne said in a release. “It’s a forward-looking approach that strengthens rural emergency services and ensures patients receive timely, high-quality care.”
In some other rural B.C. emergency departments, VERRa has already been introduced to augment in-person services to keep overnight care available, including providing successful in-patient support at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. However, IH notes this pilot project for the Nakusp, Clearwater, Lillooet and Princeton hospitals will break ground by bringing virtual patient support in-house.
“We see this virtual pilot program as a small but meaningful step toward greater stability in local emergency care,” Nakusp Mayor Tom Zeleznik said in the release. “Our community welcomes innovative solutions, values the strong partnerships that support rural health care and appreciates the leadership from the Ministry of Health and Interior Health.”
Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell added that collaborating on creative solutions to rural health-care challenges is the best path forward.
IH noted it will keep medical staff and the public informed as the initiative develops.
“We’re taking the time to engage with physicians, staff and community partners to understand what might work,” IH president and CEO Sylvia Weir said in the release. “By listening and consulting from the ground up, we hope to shape a model that communities can trust and where front-line teams feel supported.”
The VERRa model is scheduled to take place sometime in 2026.