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B.C. health authority proposes virtual care pilot program to keep small ERs open
Interior Health will pilot virtual emergency care in four small hospitals to reduce overnight closures and help physicians avoid burnout, officials said.
- On Oct. 22, 2025, Interior Health proposed a virtual emergency care pilot for hospitals in Nakusp, Princeton, Clearwater and Lillooet, starting early next year.
- Facing repeated temporary closures, B.C. emergency departments struggle with staffing shortages and burnout, and physicians covering overnight emergency shifts say remote work could help maintain their practices.
- Under the proposed model, one ER physician would be physically present at a single hospital while supported by health-care workers and other physicians on call, Interior Health said.
- Health Minister Josie Osborne called the proposal a `forward-looking approach` that strengthens rural emergency services, and Tom Zeleznik, Nakusp mayor, said `It's an opportunity to help our ER from closing or otherwise.`
- If successful, the pilot could help keep small rural emergency rooms open by using virtual care so physicians can share responsibilities; Interior Health will test the model starting early next year.
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Winnipeg Free Press+10 Reposted by 10 other sources
B.C. health authority proposes virtual care pilot program to keep small ERs open
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·Winnipeg, Canada
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B.C. health authority proposes virtual care pilot program to keep small ERs open – Energeticcity.ca
LILLOOET — Virtual emergency care is being proposed for four communities in British Columbia’s Interior in an effort to reduce the number of emergency room closures over lack of staffing. A statement from Interior Health says hospitals in Clearwater, Nakusp, Lillooet, and Princeton are similar in size with low overnight patient volumes. The pilot program would allow doctors to “share responsibilities” with a mix of virtual and on-site staffing. …
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Leaning Left7Leaning Right1Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution78% Left
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