opinion: hybrid care offers emergency relief over the holidays and in the long run
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hybrid care augments health care professionals on the ground with emergency medicine-trained physicians.
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with colder weather, busier holiday schedules, and flu season in full swing, finding urgent care for a family member isn’t easy.
on top of that, recent reports have highlighted increasingly frequent emergency room closures across canada, particularly in rural communities, and too many canadians are leaving ers without being treated, often due to overwhelming demand and long wait times. these challenges are real and profoundly consequential; fortunately, solutions to this unacceptable situation are already taking root in communities nationwide.
across several provinces, canadians can access safe, high-quality emergency care through innovative approaches that reduce the strain on the system. technology-supported care is not about replacing physicians, it’s about making the best use of those we have, increasing their impact by bringing their skills to patients who might otherwise go without care. through this innovative model, physicians can extend their reach, add much-needed capacity to an already strained health system, and achieve greater work-life balance.
er pressures and staff shortages affect communities across canada, but rural communities, like the one i live in, feel it most acutely. long distances and fewer staff mean even short er closures can be devastating. without reliable access to emergency and primary care, communities simply cannot thrive. as someone who has managed life and death situations on the frontlines of ers from canada to ukraine, i can unequivocally say: hybrid ers work!
too often, the national conversation around ers focuses on whether they should remain open or close, when the question should be how to keep them open safely. a solution already exists—integrated virtual care platforms are delivering emergency services to communities that otherwise face limited or no coverage. purpose-built technology connects virtual physicians with healthcare professionals on the ground, forming collaborative teams that use high-definition cameras and connected peripherals like remote stethoscopes to assess, treat, and stabilize patients, coordinating transfers only when necessary.
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hybrid care augments healthcare professionals on the ground with emergency medicine-trained physicians. it addresses critical staffing issues while making sure patients have access to safe, high-quality care when and where they need it. furthermore, data from this er quintuple aim impact report illustrates the power of ers that have adopted hybrid care to expand physician reach and capacity while:
- enhancing the patient experience: 95 per cent patient satisfaction and a 20 per cent decrease in patients leaving without being seen;
- improving population health: 97 per cent of cases resolved during the initial visit, with 15 per cent of patients treated for high-acuity or life-threatening conditions (e.g. heart attacks, stroke, respiratory distress, traumatic head injuries);
- lowering system costs: fewer than three per cent of cases require transfer; one physician can safely support several rural sites at once, reducing costly locum reliance;
- supporting provider well-being: 20 per cent reduction in on-site workload, with 85 per cent of providers reporting better work-life balance; and
- advancing health equity: more than 30,000 hours of facility closures avoided, keeping care within communities.
with 5.9 million canadians lacking a primary care provider, and 74 per cent who are unable to see their primary care provider in a timely manner, more people are turning to ers, adding more pressure to already stretched teams. in communities where er coverage pulls physicians from their family practice, hybrid care can treat more patients safely and efficiently. this approach brings primary care physicians in only when needed so they can continue meeting other community needs.
rural communities, businesses, and families depend on accessible, reliable and safe emergency medicine. advanced technology provides a scalable way to sustain emergency services while also strengthening primary care. by choosing to live in a rural community, we should not have to give up the reasonable expectation that basic medical care—primary care and emergency care—should be accessible close to home. with the right approach, teams, and technology, we can make that promise a reality.
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dr. tracey parnell, emergency & rural physician, british columbia
teladoc health canada medical advisor
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