Virtual Emergency Physician program expands to Tofield

Program uses remote physicians to support emergency department patients

TOFIELD - Patients seeking care at the Tofield Health Centre emergency department (ED) will have additional supports beginning Monday, August 17, when Alberta Health Services (AHS) introduces its Virtual Emergency Physician (VEP) program at the facility.

The VEP program uses an experienced ED physician to remotely support facilities that are temporarily without 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 collaborates with local staff, speaks with patients, orders tests and medications, and transfers or discharges patients.

Beginning today, Tofield will have an on-site physician available in the ED on Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 24/7 on weekends, with nursing staff on-site 24/7 to assess any patients who may present to the site. A VEP may be available from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weeknights. At times when there is no ED physician on-site, public communications will note whether a virtual emergency physician may be available.

Since launching in January 2025, the VEP program has supported 16 rural EDs across the province, with more sites expected to join the program in the coming months. This approach has proven reliable and effective in ensuring patients with non-life-threatening conditions receive the support they need when they need it. Similar models are also used in B.C. and Saskatchewan.

Emergency Health Services (EHS) remains available to transfer patients to a facility with in-person ED physician support, as needed.

“Generally, many of our emergency department service disruptions occur overnight when the number of patients is lower, and the injuries or illnesses are not as acute and can be easily handled with on-site nursing care and a virtual physician,” says Dr. Jane Ojedokun, Deputy Corridor Lead – Edmonton Rural. Dr. Ojedokun has been instrumental in the introduction and expansion of the VEP program in rural Alberta.

“If patients have life-threatening issues,” adds Dr. Ojedokun, “we have plans in place to get them the care they need through the support of Emergency Health Services (EHS) and surrounding facilities.”

AHS continues to actively recruit physicians to supply in-person emergency department support. This initiative will not impact these continued efforts in communities with VEP. On-site physician coverage remains a priority for AHS.

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.