Alberta Health Services (AHS) is expanding its Virtual Emergency Physician (VEP) program to the Tofield Health Centre starting Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, offering remote doctor coverage during off-peak hours.
The program connects on-site clinical staff with an experienced off-site AHS physician via telephone or videoconference when no doctor is present locally. The virtual physician can consult with patients, order tests and medications, and manage patient discharges or transfers for non-life-threatening conditions.
Under the new schedule, the Tofield emergency department will have an on-site physician Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 24/7 on weekends. A virtual physician may cover overnight hours from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weeknights. Nursing staff will remain on-site 24/7 to triage and assess all incoming patients.
“Generally, many of our emergency department service disruptions occur overnight when the number of patients is lower, and the injuries or illnesses are not as acute and can be easily handled with on-site nursing care and a virtual physician,” said Dr. Jane Ojedokun, Deputy Corridor Lead for Edmonton Rural. “If patients have life-threatening issues, we have plans in place to get them the care they need through the support of Emergency Health Services (EHS) and surrounding facilities.”
Key facts about the virtual ER initiative include:
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Provincial Reach: Since launching in January 2025, the VEP program has supported 16 rural emergency departments across Alberta, modeled after similar programs in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
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Emergency Care: Emergency Health Services (EHS) remains available to transport patients requiring in-person physician care to nearby facilities if necessary.
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Ongoing Recruitment: AHS emphasized that virtual coverage is a supporting measure and that active recruitment for permanent, in-person emergency physicians remains a top priority.