Virtual emergency department to offer services in Thunder Bay, Ont.

THUNDER BAY, Ont. — People in the Thunder Bay, Ont., area can now seek timely medical attention without leaving their homes during the pandemic.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is offering services through its virtual emergency department starting this week.

The program is open to area residents over age 17 who have non-life-threatening medical issues and are without quick access to a primary care provider.

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The chief of emergency says virtual assessments are an accessible option so people can avoid spending time in a waiting room during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 15-minute video chat appointments will be offered between noon and 6 p.m.

It’s the latest Ontario hospital to offer virtual appointments during the pandemic after Toronto’s Sunnybrook launched a similar service last month.

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