Virtual urgent care hours now in place at two hospitals in Eastern Zone

Virtual urgent care hours are now in place at two emergency departments in Nova Scotia Health's Eastern Zone. 

At Guysborough Memorial Hospital, virtual urgent care will be available Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At Eastern Memorial Hospital in Canso, virtual urgent care will be available Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hours are subject to change at both sites.

Virtual urgent care gives patients with urgent, but non-life-threatening health matters like coughs, colds, sprains and urinary tract infections, the option to be treated virtually. Patients coming to the emergency departments would see an onsite triage nurse and register as usual. They are assessed by the triage nurse and if their health matter is appropriate for virtual care, the patient is asked if they would like to see a virtual physician. If patient consents, a visit is arranged through a computer tablet in a room onsite. Virtual physicians can order any tests or prescriptions (excluding controlled substances) that the patient needs. Virtual care nurses may also provide support to the patient during and after the visit. Once the physician finishes the visit, onsite staff receive the physician orders. They follow-up with the patient to provide any orders for tests or prescriptions and ensure the patient understands any next steps before they are discharged. 

Patients who come to the departments and need further assessment or are not appropriate for virtual care will be treated by the onsite team. When there is no physician onsite, patients with emergency health matters should call 911 for care. 

The virtual urgent care pilot project continues to be tested at St. Mary's Memorial Hospital in Sherbrooke and Strait Richmond Hospital in Evanston.