New online platform in N.S. designed to build efficiencies within province's health-care system
A new program in Nova Scotia was created in hopes to ease some pressure on the province's health-care system by minimizing patient wait times to see a specialist.
The idea for "Virtual Hallway" came from a conversation between two doctors who came up with new treatment options for a patient.
Dr. Luke Napier said the web-based platform is already growing at a rapid rate.
“It’s essentially a scheduler," said Napier. "It makes it easy for a family physician or nurse practitioner to get in touch with a specialist.”
Napier says it's also much faster than an office-based consultation.
“So, if people are on a waitlist to see a specialist, this is the way the doctor or nurse practitioner can consider using to get a specialist involved quite quickly,” said Napier, who added "Virtual Hallway' doesn't directly alleviate the family doctor shortage in Nova Scotia, but it does remove existing significant pressure points from within the health-care system.
“If a primary care provider is working with the patient and developing a treatment plan, this allows that doctor or nurse practitioner to have a conversation with a specialist.”
Erin Sarrazin says the process requires consent from patients to allow doctors and nurse practitioners to work on their behalf.
“I am able to come back to them and offer a solution, to either bridge them to an appointment while they're waiting to see a specialist," said Sarrazin, who is a nurse practitioner. "It can also potentially avoid having them see a specialist at all.”
Sarrazin said "Virtual Hallway" is an innovative solution that leads to incremental efficiencies within Nova Scotia's health-care system.
“Virtual care and using the technology that we have is going to be the future of health care," said Sarrazin. "Especially when you think about our province, when you think about the difficulty people have finding a health-care provider.“
Currently, about 500 primary care providers and more than 50 specialists in Nova Scotia are using "Virtual Hallway," with close to 100 consultations each week.
More information on platform can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.