Virtual Emergency Physician program comes to Bow Island

Service uses remote physicians to support emergency department patients

BOW ISLAND — Patients seeking care at the Bow Island Health Centre emergency department (ED) now have additional supports, as Alberta Health Services (AHS) introduces its Virtual Emergency Physician (VEP) program at the facility, starting tonight.

The VEP program uses an experienced ED physician to remotely support facilities that are temporarily without available on-site ED physician support. In these instances, site clinical staff can connect with an AHS physician by telephone or videoconference for ED patients with non-life-threatening issues. This off-site virtual physician can collaborate with local staff, speak with patients, order tests and medications, and transfer or discharge patients.

Bow Island will continue to have an on-site physician available in the ED from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Monday.

Beginning today, a virtual physician will be available to support overnight ED coverage, Monday to Thursday, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., with nursing staff on-site at all times to assess any patients who may present to the site. At times when there is no ED physician on-site, public communications will note whether a virtual emergency physician may be available.

“Bow Island is well suited for VEP with disruptions often occurring overnight when the number of patients is lower and injuries or illnesses are not as acute,” says Dr. Jane Ojedokun, Provincial Medical Lead, Rural Health Sustainability. “If patients have life-threatening issues, we have plans in place to get them the care they need through the support of Alta Paramedic Health (formerly Emergency Health Services) and surrounding facilities.”

The VEP program launched in northern Alberta at five sites in January 2025, serving more than 1,100 patients in the first six months. The program now operates across multiple sites in northwestern, Edmonton rural and central Alberta.

Similar models are also used in B.C. and Saskatchewan. The approach has proven to be reliable and effective in ensuring patients with non-life-threatening conditions receive the support they need when they need it. Alta Paramedic Health remains available to transfer patients to a facility with in-person ED physician support, as needed.

“Seeing the data and feedback from VEP support at rural sites throughout the province, we are excited to expand into southern Alberta, improving access to care for residents in Bow Island while supporting our dedicated healthcare teams providing care for their communities,” says Dr. Ojedokun.

AHS continues to actively recruit physicians to supply in-person ED support. This initiative will not impact those continued efforts in the pilot communities. On-site physician coverage remains AHS’ priority.

Alberta Health Services provides acute care services for more than five million Albertans at hospitals, urgent care centres and health centres across the province. Our mission is to provide excellent and accessible patient-focused healthcare for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, increasing access to surgeries and improving patient flow.