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Rural communities across Alberta are seeing improved access to emergency care thanks to an innovative virtual physician program introduced by Alberta Health Services (AHS).

The Virtual Emergency Physician (VEP) program connects rural emergency departments facing temporary physician shortages with experienced doctors through secure video and phone technology. The initiative focuses on supporting patients with non-life-threatening conditions while ensuring continuity of care when on-site coverage is unavailable.

Initially launched in January 2025 at five locations—Hinton, Edson, Beaverlodge, Lac La Biche and Elk Point—the program has already shown promising results.

According to AHS, in its first six months:

• Virtual physicians covered 229 shifts, totaling nearly 3,000 hours of service
• Approximately 1,150 patients received care through the program
• Emergency department disruptions due to physician shortages were reduced by 98%
• Patient satisfaction remained strong, with many indicating they would recommend the service

The program allows on-site clinical staff to connect with a physician remotely, enabling real-time consultations, diagnoses, and treatment plans. Physicians can order tests, prescribe medications, and determine whether a patient can be discharged or requires transfer to another facility.

Importantly, emergency medical services (EMS) remain available to transport higher-acuity patients to facilities with in-person physician support when needed.

Over the past year, the VEP program has expanded to additional communities, including Barrhead, Coronation, Grimshaw, Redwater, Smoky Lake, St. Paul, Westlock—and notably, Two Hills.

For smaller communities, where recruiting and retaining full-time emergency physicians can be an ongoing challenge, the program offers a practical solution to maintaining consistent care.

AHS officials say the goal remains to ensure in-person physician coverage whenever possible, but virtual support has proven to be an effective backup that helps stabilize services and support frontline healthcare teams.

Patient feedback has also been encouraging, with many reporting that the virtual care experience was comparable to an in-person visit.

As the program continues to expand, Alberta Health Services says it will monitor outcomes closely and consider adding more communities where additional support is needed.

Information for this article was provided by Alberta Health Services.
For more information about Alberta Health Services, visit their website at www.albertahealthservices.ca.