The province is expanding the virtual healthcare in Nova Scotia.
The VirtualCareNS program is now being offered to anyone on the Need a Family Practice registry.
Starting today, anyone on the registry can schedule online health appointments with a family doctor or nurse practitioner while waiting for in-person service in their community.
The program was first launched as a pilot in May of last year by the previous Liberal government and was available to waiting patients by invitation only. The PC’s began expanding the program in September after winning the provincial election.
There are about 150 to 200 virtual appointments available each weekday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and on Monday evenings until 7 p.m.
If you don’t have a family doctor, you can sign up for the Need a Family Practice Registry by calling 811. You’ll also need a heath card and email address to access VirtualCareNS.
The province says the expansion of VirtualCareNS is part of their Action for Health strategic plan.
“We want Nova Scotians to be able to access care when and where they need it. As we continue to recruit more healthcare workers and find innovative healthcare solutions, we are pleased that all Nova Scotians on the registry will be able to use VirtualCareNS. It is free, effective, and a convenient way for Nova Scotians get medical care.” – Minister of Health and Wellness Michelle Thompson.
The province says there are 61 primary care providers delivering care through VirtualCareNS, 54 are family doctors and seven are nurse practitioners.
There are now over 100,000 Nova Scotians without a family doctor.
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