VirtualCareNS Pilot Program Expanding Provincewide

**** PREMIER'S Office Media Release VirtualCareNS Pilot Program Expanding Provincewide ------------------------------------------------------- People on the Need a Family Practice Registry across the province will soon have access to virtual care. ​ Government will invest an initial $1.3 million to support Nova Scotia Health to expand the VirtualCareNS pilot program to Central and Eastern zones beginning in December. This will ensure every person on the waitlist for a doctor has access to care while recruitment efforts are enhanced. The pilot program launched in Northern and Western zones last spring. ​ "We have heard from patients and providers that access to health care is a priority," said Premier Tim Houston. "Virtual care offers a new means of seeing a primary-care provider for many people, and this expansion is a first step in ensuring every Nova Scotian has access to a form of primary care." ​ VirtualCareNS enables people on the Need a Family Practice Registry to access a primary-care provider online through their computer or mobile device. It is a free program delivered using Maple, one of Canada's leading virtual-care platforms. ​ Participants can use VirtualCareNS to access care for a variety of health concerns. If a patient's health concerns can't be resolved virtually, they will be provided with options for in-person care. Primary-care providers can also prescribe medications, order tests and make referrals for specialized care. ​ Quotes: "Access to a primary-care provider is important, and this has been a challenge for many who are on the Need a Family Practice Registry. We will now start work to expand VirtualCareNS so everyone on the registry has an option to access care from a family physician, nurse practitioner or other provider for their health concerns in a timely way." ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy, vice-president, Research, Innovation and Discovery, and chief nurse executive, Nova Scotia Health "Nova Scotians who don't have a family doctor need an immediate solution. This is a good interim approach. At the same time, we look forward to working with the new government to make the changes in our health-care system that are needed to ensure that every Nova Scotian has their own family doctor as soon as possible." ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Dr. Heather Johnson, president, Doctors Nova Scotia ​ Quick Facts: -- since its May 2021 launch in Northern and Western zones, about 4,900 people have registered for a VirtualCareNS account and nearly 1,500 virtual visits have taken place -- there are now 11 primary-care providers delivering care through VirtualCareNS (eight family physicians and three nurse practitioners); more providers are being added -- all participating primary-care providers are located in Nova Scotia -- as of Sept. 1, there were 75,180 Nova Scotians on the Need a Family Practice Registry -- expanding VirtualCareNS addresses the mandate of the Minister of Health and Wellness to provide Nova Scotians on the waitlist with access to a virtual-care service: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf Additional Resources: VirtualCareNS: https://www.nshealth.ca/service-details/VirtualCareNS