Primary Care Alberta, the province's new organization designed to improve access to health care for Albertans, released information regarding virtual medical services on July 3.
The study looked at the outcome of callers to Health Link 811 who were then passed on to online physicians for a virtual assessment.
Published in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, the study found that the virtual medical service allowed patients to "access more appropriate levels of care for their health care needs."
"This research illustrates what our Health Link nurses and physicians see every day: Virtual MD is effectively meeting its primary goal of giving patients an alternative to visiting an emergency department,” said Patricia Chambers, Executive Lead of Patient Navigation and System Integration with PCA, in the release. “Ensuring Albertans access the right care is good for patients and reduces strain on the healthcare system.”
Since launching in 2022, over half the patients assessed by the program followed through on advice to visit their doctor, visit the emergency room, or look after things at home based on advice given virtually.
The study also notes that those referred to primary care but chose to go to the emergency room anyway were often diagnosed with conditions better addressed by a family doctor rather than the hospital.
According to the release, "Virtual MD is designed to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits" in the province.
Residents call Health Link 811, where they are connected to a registered nurse or other clinical staff member who conducts an assessment to determine whether a physician assessment is warranted. Around 125 Health Link callers per day are passed on to a physician for follow-up.
Over 100,000 patients have been assessed by a program physician; of these, around half were able to manage their health condition at home. Others were referred to other types of in-person care or follow-up, such as at urgent care centres or family doctors.
Virtual MD is available seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
“The virtual option to meet with patients enables us to connect with pockets of Albertans who may struggle to access these services: those with mobility or transportation issues, individuals in rural areas or those who have limited access to care,” said Dr. Genelle Dingeldein, a Virtual MD physician. “We can provide immediate advice in real-time and help patients navigate how to self-manage their symptoms or when to seek higher levels of care when appropriate.”
The service has around 90 physicians working for it and is a "made-in-Alberta solution" designed to improve primary care access for residents.
