VEP program expands to Oyen, Milk River, Fort Macleod

Posted on 14 September 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Contributed

Patients seeking care at the Big Country Hospital emergency department (ED) now have additional physician support through Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) Virtual Emergency Physician (VEP) program.

The VEP program uses scheduled, experienced ED physicians to remotely support rural facilities. Nursing staff can connect with an AHS physician by telephone or videoconference to assess patients with non-life-threatening conditions. The virtual physician can speak with patients, collaborate with local healthcare teams, order tests and medications, and determine whether a patient can be discharged or needs to be transferred to another facility.

Beginning today, a virtual physician will be scheduled to support overnight ED coverage, Monday to Thursday, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. On-site physician services will continue to be available Tuesday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 7 a.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Monday. 

 As well, similar program arrangements are now in place at the Fort Macleod and Milk River Health Centre emergency departments (EDs). “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,” says Dr. Jane Ojedokun, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Rural Health Sustainability, AHS.