Impact

New service launched to improve access to virtual care at Yarmouth Regional Hospital

Introducing a new service launched to help patients access virtual care!The Emergency Department at Yarmouth Regional Hospital has been facing increased challenges, due to staffing shortages and overcrowding. Complicating this further is the fact that so many of us don’t have a family doctor, so many folks have to come to the E.D. for primary care — especially if you’re someone who may have barriers to booking or accessing virtual care appointments via Department of Health and Wellness approved applications.

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation has partnered with Nova Scotia Health to reduce barriers to accessing virtual care through the Virtual Care @ Yarmouth Hub six-month pilot project, a free public service. This was announced in a press release last week — but what does it mean, in practical terms? It means that, thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we have been able to provide broadband internet-connected computers and mobile devices that have been set up in a safe room at Yarmouth Regional Hospital Learning Centre, for confidential virtual appointments from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, supported by Lacey d’Entremont, the new virtual care technician. Lacey is trained on virtual care technology and processes and will help people who are not comfortable or struggle with using the technology.

“Everyone is very excited about this project because it is an opportunity to provide personal help to people who may have trouble or questions about accessing virtual care options,” said Tracey Watkins-Allen, site leader at Yarmouth Regional Hospital. “We also expect this to relieve some pressure on emergency departments by providing an option to people who have primary care needs but can’t otherwise access services.”

Meet Lacey d'Entremont, the virtual care technician ready to assist you

With the assistance of Lacey, the new Virtual Care @ Yarmouth service can assist patients with any digital health needs where patients have access barriers, such as:

  • scheduling virtual appointments (i.e. Zoom)
  • attending VirtualCareNS registration and appointments
  • accessing mental health and addictions apps
  • accessing patient portals

in a safe, secure space.

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation managing director, Mary Surette, said: “In response to the increased urgent need of ways to access primary health care, we are only too pleased to be a partner in the Virtual Care @ Yarmouth Hub project. Helping those in our community who experience challenges or have limited access to technology to use virtual care is important. Because of our donors, this is one way that we can assist in closing that access to health care gap.”

Everyone on the Need a Family Practice Registry is eligible to sign up for and use VirtualCareNS to access a family doctor or nurse practitioner online. Yarmouth area residents can book space and the technology for virtual appointments at Yarmouth Regional Hospital by:

Telephone: 1-833-394-1832
Email: VirtualCarePatientSupport@nshealth.ca

Rolling out to the beach at Bayside

Sometimes, the impact of a project or a donation can be hard to see immediately and only makes itself known over time — especially in health care, where the impact of new equipment and services often takes time to become apparent. And then sometimes, the impact is easily spotted. Bay Side Home, one of last year’s YHF Commitment to Health Care Community Fund recipients, submitted a grant proposal for a project where the impact was as plain as the smiles on their service-users’ faces.

Bay Side Home in Barrington is a long-term care facility for sixty-two residents, providing care at its best by working to meet the needs of the whole person and helping maintain a quality of life. Many of their residents require mobility assistance or are dependent on a wheelchair and these needs can limit their access to community or outdoor spaces. They applied to and were awarded a YHF Commitment to Health Care Community Fund grant last year, and the delightful results are so plain to see in the photographs from their Facebook.

The purchase of the Hippocampe all-terrain chairs allows their residents to access the beautiful area in which they live, and to visit places they once were able to go prior to residing at Bay Side Home. It enables visits to the beaches and seaside trails alongside the Atlantic Ocean, allows for the opportunity to travel and participate in activities around the province and to other outdoor attractions. Along with the physical benefits of time spent in nature, it supports mental health and well-being. Bayside’s Recreation Manager, Megan Lemoine noted, “Being outdoors attributes to better moods, decrease the chance of depression, reduced stress, provide opportunities for socialization and improve cognitive function.”

If you are a part of a registered charity or recognised non-profit in the Tri-County area, please take the time to look over our grant application today. Applications close 30 September, 2022.