News Summary

Interior Health (IH), in collaboration with the BC Ministry of Health, is launching a pilot project to integrate virtual care with on-site staffing in rural emergency rooms (ERs) in British Columbia. The initiative aims to maintain consistent access to emergency services and improve staff retention by allowing physicians to share responsibilities in communities like Clearwater, Nakusp, Lillooet, and Princeton. The project builds on the existing Virtual Emergency Room Rural assistance (VERRa) model, which supports in-person services. This approach aims to strengthen rural healthcare by providing more connected and timely care, thus ensuring high-quality service delivery in areas with low overnight patient volumes. The initiative has been welcomed by local communities, highlighting the importance of partnerships in sustaining rural medical services.