Nova Scotia Health officials are reminding you of a service that can speed up seeing a doctor for an illness or injury by hours.
Virtual Urgent Care has been available at hospitals for nearly two years and can support more people using it.
Director of Integrated Rural Health in Eastern Zone, Andrew Heighton explains you will still be seen in-person by a registration clerk who will help you through the whole process and a registered nurse.
“You will still receive an assessment if required. You can still get a prescription, you can still get x-ray, bloodwork, req’s, if it’s deemed necessary,” he says.
Patient, Chris Cooke being examined by Registered Nurse, Colin Graham while seeing Dr. Jan Sommers virtually. PHOTO: JESSICA LAING/ACADIA NEWS
Guysborough Memorial Hospital Site Lead, Michelle Myers says the service is available to anyone over 12 months old with a valid NS health card.
“There’s a lot of stuff that we can do on site. It’s only the provider who’s virtual,” she shares.
Heighton says provincially only 1,000 to 1,200 patients a month use virtual urgent care, while Guysborough Memorial Hospital only gets about 10 to15 patients per month when they can support 10 to 15 per day.
Nova Scotia Health staff pose for a group photo at Guysborough Memorial Hospital. PHOTO: JESSICA LAING/ACADIA NEWS
This service is available at various hospitals across Nova Scotia during scheduled daytime hours, even if their Emergency Department is closed or by calling 8-1-1.
For more information including hours and hospital locations that offer virtual urgent care, see their website.
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