S5E26 - Keeping rural emergency department doors open with VERRa featuring Dr. Brydon Blacklaws

As temporary rural emergency room closures become more common and the rural physician shortage continues, virtual physician support is increasingly important for keeping hospital doors open. The Rural Coordination Centre of BC has long been a leader in this area, offering a lifeline to rural emergency departments through its Virtual Emergency Room Rural Assistance program, or VERRa. 

In this interview, rural emergency physician Dr. Brydon Blacklaws shares the origins and evolution of VERRa, how the service works, where virtual support is most effective, and where its limits lie. We also explore the broader value of virtual support—fro...