Wave of the future

Emergency department visitors at Western Hospital can now be seen by a doctor virtually

ALBERTON – Virtual healthcare technology being pioneered at Alberton's Western Hospital is expanding into the emergency room.

The hospital now offers patients with non-critical needs, who meet certain criteria, the option to connect with a doctor by video rather than waiting to see the on-site during emergency department physician. During the video consultation, nurses and other medical staff are on hand to take the patient’s vitals, facilitate examination and testing or provide medications as needed while the doctor participates via video conferencing.

The technology is expected to give those seeking medical attention faster access to care.

Western Hospital has previously used the technology, offered by a company called Maple, in other parts of the hospital, but this is the first time it has been used on P.E.I. in an emergency department setting.

It has reportedly worked so well that the province is considering expanding the same service to Kings County Memorial Hospital in Montague.

“I am very pleased to see this efficient approach to emergency department care at Western Hospital in addition to the other great supports such as the telerounding initiative to provide the best care possible to patients," said Health Minister James Aylward.

“This model also allows Western Hospital to offer some urgent care services to people even during times when physicians cannot be on-site at the hospital emergency department which is helping to enhance rural health overall.”

Maple's partnership with Health PEI and Western Hospital has proven invaluable for the company as well, said Dr. Brett Belchetz, an emergency department physician and CEO and co-founder of Maple.

“While Maple has demonstrated the potential of online health care for more than four years now, many days seeing more patients than the three busiest EDs in the country combined, we’ve made some of our most exciting strides alongside the teams at Western Hospital and Health PEI, who have enthusiastically embraced technological solutions that will drive innovation forward for the entire country," said Belchetz.

ERIC MCCARTHY/JOURNAL PIONEER Western Hospital Emergency Department clinical lead, Bev Ashley explains how certain patients with low-acuity issues who show up to the emergency department might be presented with the option of being seen virtually, possibly within minutes, by a doctor on a large computer monitor rather than sitting for hours in the waiting room.