Borrow a book then see a doctor? You could if you're in a Pictou County library

Residents of Pictou County, N.S., who are without a primary care provider can now seek medical care from the same place they go to borrow books: their community library. In early February the county launched a one-year pilot program that offers private, dedicated spaces where patrons can use VirtualCareNS, the platform that matches unattached patients with a family physician or nurse practitioner, according to a CBC News report. The spaces, which patients book by calling or visiting the three library branches that offer the service, can also be used for virtual care appointments with specialists. Read: Patients without doctors–coast to coast The project is geared to the estimated 10,000 Pictou County residents who are listed on the province’s registry of patients who currently have no family doctor or nurse practitioner. On the day an email about the new service went out to these unattached patients, more than 50 virtual care appointments took place from the libraries, said Michelle Ferris, executive director of the Aberdeen Health Foundation, one of the partners behind the program. Ferris said the idea for the program came about after the initial launch of VirtualCareNS, when it became clear that a number of people could not access the service because of barriers such as lack of access to technology or reliable, high-speed Internet, challenges navigating the system, or even the absence of a private space for a virtual care appointment. "We thought that these could be very real barriers for some folks and we're well aware of our local libraries as being a place where people go for help to access, you know, other government programs," said Ferris. The libraries already had the main components required for the problem: space and equipment. All that was needed was help making these spaces and equipment fully accessible as well as staff to guide members of the public who want to use the service. The province provided some funding to hire and train staff. "Obviously (the service) caught notice and great interest and I think that they've been busy with it since," said Ferris. Read: Physician assistants could fill part of B.C.'s need for more doctors: advocates

Borrow a book then see a doctor? You could if you're in a Pictou County library

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