‘Webcams don’t replace doctors’: Concerns raised over Sask. virtual physician program

WATCH: Concerns are being expressed in the Sask. legislature over the growing use of virtual care at rural emergency rooms. Wayne Mantyka explains.

Concerns have been raised in the Saskatchewan legislature this week over the growing use of virtual care at rural emergency rooms.

The Virtual Physician Program has been used in almost 30 rural communities in the province. It allows emergency room physicians to connect with patients through Healthline 811 using a computer or laptop with a webcam, or through the app on a smartphone.

During legislative proceedings earlier this week, Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill said while the program isn’t the final solution to fill gaps in healthcare, it helps make sure people have access to the care they need wherever they live.

“I think we can be very proud of the virtual physician program that’s in communities all across the province, been used over 1,500 times in nearly 30 communities. This is a stabilization strategy while we work to recruit staff to communities,” he said.

However, the NDP believes an emergency room is not a place for virtual care.

“Webcams are not emergency room doctors,” Conway said. “In too many situations, there is no substitute for seeing a doctor in person. No parent with a sick kid should be left wondering if a glitchy video call is all they get.”

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Ahead of legislative assembly on Wednesday, NDP MLA Meara Conway held a press conference to announce her intention to present an emergency motion that would see an end to the program.

“Women should feel safe in their communities, safe to give birth close to home with a real doctor in a real hospital, not over Zoom,” she said. “When will we see a real plan from the Sask. Party to get doctors, not webcams for women giving birth in this province?”

Provincial NDP Leader Carla Beck echoed Conway’s statements on Wednesday, calling the program “ludicrous.”

“Virtual healthcare does have a place for non-emergencies, for medical assessments, but for the last two days, that Minister of Health has stood in his place and endorsed doctors over webcams to treat things like appendicitis, broken lights and even delivering babies,” she said. “It’s unreal.”

“[The] webcam healthcare scheme is not only ludicrous [but] also dangerous for Saskatchewan people.”

While the government agrees in person care would be preferred, the virtual program is a temporary measure while more doctors are recruited to rural Saskatchewan.

“Until you have a community where we don’t have physician coverage for an emergency department, this allows us to keep that emergency department open,” Cockrill said.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday Dr. Johann Roodt with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said the technology has been used to assess patients with everything from heart attacks to broken legs.

“3,680 patients as of today have been safely seen, effectively cared for whether that’s in the location, their home community, one of these 27 communities or transferred to the next hospital,” he said.