Billed as remedy for doctor shortage, virtual medicine in N.S. hits bottleneck
CTV
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual medicine offered a novel way for patients to see doctors during a lockdown and hope that technology could alleviate chronic pressure on a strained health system.
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual medicine offered a novel way for patients to see doctors during a lockdown and hope that technology could alleviate chronic pressure on a strained health system.
For many in Nova Scotia, though, the early promise has proven illusory.
Tim Neufeld, 28, from Dartmouth, N.S., has been on Nova Scotia's wait-list for a family doctor for five years. He said in a recent interview that he was left frustrated after several unsuccessful attempts at securing a virtual appointment.
"The biggest hurdle is just accessing the system, having to log on between 8:59 a.m. and 9:09 a.m.," he said, noting that when he tried to sign up for virtual care after 9:10 a.m., all the day's appointments were already booked.
"Obviously the demand far exceeds the supply, so there's some pain around that and whether or not you're able to even get the care you need."
Sara Wallace, 48, from Dartmouth, compared the experience to "trying to buy concert tickets." She said she tried unsuccessfully to schedule a medical appointment four times over two weeks before finally succeeding.
Nova Scotia launched its virtual health platform in May 2021, and it now has 67 health professionals -- physicians and nurse practitioners -- who provide virtual consultations on top of existing general practice commitments.
