Virtual emergency care program at Truro hospital underway

Nova Scotia Health is testing a new virtual health-care pilot program delivered by emergency department physicians and staff at the Colchester

East Hants Health Centre in Truro.

Announced in a recent news release, VirtualEmergencyNS is meant to reduce wait times for patients who have health concerns that are treatable through a virtual visit.

To date, 175 patients have received virtual care from one of the eight participating doctors, the health authority said.

“This pilot program builds on a virtual care offering that was started by our emergency department staff during the onset of the pandemic,” said Dr. Janet Sommers, chief of the emergency department at Colchester East Hants Health Centre. “VirtualEmergencyNS allows us to provide patients who present with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions with more timely access to care.”

Following triage, patients who are eligible for virtual care are offered access to VirtualEmergencyNS.

Patients who consent to a virtual appointment will be directed to a consult room equipped with a telemedicine cart. The patient is supported by an on-site nurse or advanced care paramedic, who can perform a physical assessment if needed.

Some examples noted by Nova Scotia Health as appropriate for virtual appointments include back pain, skin infections, non-heart-related chest pain, simple fractures, urinary tract infections and abdominal pain.

The VirtualEmergencyNS doctor can also order tests or provide prescriptions for patients through the platform.

Nova Scotia Health said the virtual program is fully connected with in-person care at the hospital and patients needing further care will be treated on-site.