Alberta Health Services says its Virtual Emergency Physician pilot program covered 229 shifts across the province in the first six months of its trial.
The Virtual Emergency Physician pilot program connects rural emergency departments experiencing temporary on-site physician vacancies with off-site emergency physicians through virtual technology. The program is designed to support patients with non-life-threatening conditions.
The pilot launched in January 2025 at five Alberta Health Services facilities: Beaverlodge, Hinton, Edson, Lac La Biche and Elk Point.
Alberta Health Services said that during the first six months, the program delivered close to 3,000 hours of service and provided care to nearly 1,150 low-acuity patients. The agency added that the pilot prevented 98 per cent of emergency department service disruptions that would have resulted from a lack of on-site physician coverage.
“The Virtual Emergency Physician Program helps to ensure rural communities have more reliable access to emergency care, strengthens services across the province, and provides vital support to the teams delivering care to Albertans,” said Matt Jones, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services.
Alberta Health Services said it will continue to monitor the program closely, with a focus on improving patient access to emergency care.
