According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), a recent study shows that their Virtual MD service is effective for patient care.
Virtual MD was introduced in 2022 to lower the number of potentially needless ER visits. A registered nurse or clinical staff member conducts an examination when Albertans call Health Link 811 to ascertain whether they require additional evaluation from a doctor. The Virtual MD program refers an average of 125 Health Link callers to a doctor every day.
"The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, reviewed Virtual MD, a service that refers callers to Health Link 811 to physicians for virtual assessment. The study concludes the Virtual MD service enables patients to access more appropriate levels of care for their healthcare needs," shared AHS.
Since its launch in 2022, more than half of patients assessed by Virtual MD doctors followed through on advice to see a family doctor, visit an emergency department (ED), or manage their care at home, the study found. Patients who were advised to seek primary care but chose to go to an ED often had conditions better suited for a family doctor’s care, showing that the original primary care recommendation was appropriate.
“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,” says Patricia Chambers, Executive Lead of Patient Navigation and System Integration with PCA. “Ensuring Albertans access the right care is good for patients and reduces strain on the healthcare system.”
Back in February, the service passed a major milestone, sharing that they have assisted over 100,000 callers. About half were able to manage their condition at home with self-care.
"Other patients were referred to other forms of in-person care or follow-up that best suited their needs, such as urgent care centres, family medicine practitioners, other community-based programs and emergency departments," explained AHS.
The service, which operates daily from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., is staffed by 90 physicians.
“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,” says 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.”
AHS concluded by saying Primary Care Alberta is a made-in-Alberta solution to improve access to the primary care services Albertans rely on.
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