Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) president Dr. Eben Strydom encourages physicians to share their experiences with virtual care as the provincial government develops a strategy for the future of virtual care within the health care system.

The Ministry of Health unveiled a website (virtualcare.saskatchewan.ca) that includes a survey and poll for health providers. Physicians can also share their stories and ideas on the future of virtual care. The website is part of a broader public consultation that will remain active until April 30, 2022. The survey can be completed online or in printed form. Dedicated phone lines and emails have also been established.

“Virtual care has played an important role for physicians in providing care for their patients since the outbreak of the pandemic two years ago,” Dr. Strydom said. “While it was established as a temporary measure due to the pandemic, virtual care is now here to stay. Now is the time to develop and implement a long-term model of care that benefits patients and physicians alike.”

Dr. Strydom encourages physicians to complete the survey or any of the other online options, such as sharing stories or providing their ideas on how virtual care can be improved.

“Physicians are in a unique position to provide input on virtual care, based on the knowledge they have gained after two years of experience with the system,” Dr. Strydom said. “I ask physicians to take a few minutes to share that experience.”