Real-Time Virtual Support Pathways

Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) is helping rural providers deliver timely, patient-centred care closer to home.

RTVS has Instant Access, Quick Reply and Patient-Facing Pathways.

Benefits of the RTVS Pathways:

  • Improved accessibility of care for rural communities to meet individual health needs
  • Reduction of out-of-pocket costs for patients seeking care
  • Fosters patient-centred care by bridging specialties and transfers in a timely manner
  • Relationship-building among physicians and care team that fosters community of practice
  • Increased confidence and reduced isolation of physicians and nurses in rural and remote areas
  • Increased mentoring and education opportunities for providers, especially new-to-practice residents

Providers based in rural areas have 24/7 access to Peer-to-Peer Pathways for Emergency, Critical Care, Pediatrics and Maternity & Newborn. In addition, there are several Quick Reply services in Dermatology, Hematology, Rheumatology, Thrombosis, and myofascial pain. A quick-reply Post COVID-19 Recovery Clinic Referral pathway has also been added.

RTVS can also be used to connect patients to providers. The First Nations Health Authority’s First Nations Doctor of the Day and First Nations Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatric Service pathways and the 8-1-1 HealthLink BC Emergency iDoctor in-assistance (HEiDi) are the patient-facing pathways operating through RTVS.

Please see attached poster for details on how to connect, through Zoom, or a telephone line, to the Peer-to-Peer Pathways.

Real-Time Virtual Support Pathways 

Anyone looking for further information on how to set up the Zoom contacts can visit https://rccbc.ca/rtvs/.