In a quiet corner of Saskatoon’s west end, Eileen Morin settles into her living room chair, adjusts her glasses, and taps the screen of her tablet. At 74, she’s become something of a digital pioneer among her friends. The grandmother of five connects with her family doctor through the provincial Virtual Care Hub, rather than making the hour-long round trip to the clinic.
“It used to take half my day just to get a prescription renewed,” Eileen tells me, her silver hair catching the afternoon light. “Now I can see my doctor without leaving home. For someone my age with mobility issues, it’s been life-changing.”
Eileen represents a growing cohort of Saskatchewan residents embracing virtual healthcare services that have expanded dramatically since the pandemic began. This month, the Saskatchewan Health Authority announced three new virtual care initiatives that will further transform how residents access medical services across the province.
The expanded Virtual Care Hub will now offer specialized mental health support, chronic disease management programs, and enhanced rural access points in communities with physician shortages. These additions build upon the existing infrastructure that has served over 35,000 Saskatchewan residents since its initial launch in 2020.
For Dr. Carla Bergen, a family physician who splits her practice between traditional and virtual appointments, the expansion addresses critical gaps in the provincial healthcare system.
“What we’re seeing is a fundamental shift in how care is delivered,” Dr. Bergen explains during our video call. “Virtual options aren’t replacing in-person care—they’re extending our reach to people who might otherwise fall through the cracks.”
Those cracks have been widening for years. According to Statistics Canada data, approximately 14.5% of Saskatchewan residents lack a regular healthcare provider, a figure that climbs to nearly 20% in rural areas. The physician shortage has created “healthcare deserts” where accessing basic medical services requires significant travel or extended waiting periods.
The Virtual Care Hub’s expansion directly targets these underserved communities. In places like Meadow Lake, La Ronge, and dozens of smaller communities, dedicated virtual access points are being established in community centers, libraries, and existing health facilities.
“The technology is actually quite simple,” explains Michael Tchozewski, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Director of Virtual Health. “We’re creating spaces where people can connect with practitioners securely, even if they don’t have their own devices or reliable internet at home.”
These community access points feature private rooms equipped with user-friendly touchscreen systems. Local facilitators—often community health workers—help patients navigate the technology and ensure the virtual visit meets their needs.
For Indigenous communities, the virtual expansion includes culturally-appropriate services. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) has partnered with the health authority to ensure traditional healing practices and cultural protocols are respected within the virtual environment.
“We’ve been working closely with knowledge keepers and Indigenous health providers,” says Tchozewski. “Several of our new access points are located within First Nations health centers, where traditional healing and Western medicine can work together.”
While the digital expansion offers promising solutions, challenges remain. Dr. Ivar Mendez, head of surgery at the University of Saskatchewan and a pioneering advocate for remote healthcare, cautions that virtual care must complement, not replace, hands-on medicine.
“Technology gives us incredible reach, but the human touch remains essential,” Dr. Mendez told me during a recent visit to his robotic medicine lab. “What we’re building is a hybrid system where digital and physical healthcare work in concert.”
The financial investment is substantial. The province has allocated $14.3 million over three years to expand virtual health infrastructure, with additional support from federal connectivity programs. According to Health Canada assessments, virtual care initiatives can reduce healthcare costs by approximately 20% per consultation while improving patient satisfaction scores.
Back in her living room, Eileen demonstrates how she checks her blood pressure and oxygen levels using Bluetooth-enabled devices that send readings directly to her doctor. For her, the technology represents independence.
“My daughter wanted me to move closer to her in Regina because she worried about my health,” Eileen says. “Now I can stay in my own home but still have medical support whenever I need it.”
The virtual care expansion isn’t without critics. Some patient advocacy groups express concern about potential two-tier healthcare development and digital access inequities. The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses has called for assurances that virtual options won’t reduce in-person staffing or create unsustainable workloads for healthcare providers.
“We support innovation, but not at the expense of quality care,” explains Sandra Seitz, President of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses. “Virtual services must come with appropriate staffing models and workload protections.”
As the system evolves, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are studying patient outcomes to ensure virtual care delivers results comparable to traditional models. Early findings suggest high satisfaction rates among users, particularly for follow-up appointments, chronic condition management, and mental health services.
For communities like Saskatoon, the expanded virtual care network represents more than technological innovation—it’s about preserving independence and dignity for people like Eileen while creating sustainable healthcare solutions for future generations.
The Virtual Care Hub expansion launches province-wide next month, with community information sessions scheduled throughout Saskatchewan to help residents learn how to access these new digital services.
