February 5, 2025
CALGARY - A Primary Care Alberta (PCA) service that refers Health Link 811 callers to a physician who can assess them over the phone or through a secure Zoom link has surpassed the 100,000-caller milestone.
Launched in 2022, Virtual MD reduces potentially unnecessary emergency department visits. When Albertans contact Health Link 811, a registered nurse or clinical staff member provides an assessment to determine whether they're in need of further assessment from a physician. On average, 125 Health Link callers are referred to a physician daily through the Virtual MD program.
"Virtual MD has proven to be an innovative solution to provide Albertans with the care they need, often at home or in their community, easing pressures on our emergency departments," says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health.
Of the first 100,000 patients assessed by a program physician, about half were able to manage their condition at home with self-care. Other patients were referred to other forms of in-person care or follow-up that best suited their needs, such as urgent care centres, family medicine practitioners, other community-based programs and emergency departments.
"Virtual MD is there for patients when they need it at critical points in their healthcare journey," says Patricia Chambers, Executive Lead of Patient Navigation and System Integration with PCA. "To reach this milestone shows us how critical this program is in innovatively meeting the healthcare needs of Albertans, no matter where they are."
The service - available seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. - involves 90 physicians.
"The virtual option to meet with patients enables us to connect with pockets of Albertans who may struggle to access these services: those with mobility or transportation issues, individuals in rural areas or those who have limited access to care," says Dr. Genelle Dingeldein, a Virtual MD physician. "We can provide immediate advice in real-time and help patients navigate how to self-manage their symptoms or when to seek higher levels of care when appropriate."
Primary Care Alberta is a made-in-Alberta solution to improve access to the primary care services Albertans rely on. By delivering coordinated services, Primary Care Alberta allows for valued healthcare professionals to do what they do best ─ care for you. Together, we are creating a future where compassionate, timely and effective healthcare is available to every Albertan at every stage of life.
