The Manitoba government has announced a new healthcare program that aims to help “critical situations outside of Winnipeg," costing an annual $5 million..Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced the new service in Steinbach. It is called the Virtual Emergency Care and Transfer Resource Service (VECTRS), which intends to streamline patient transfers.. Audrey Gordon .VECTRS healthcare workers respond to calls from rural ERs and urgent care centres..Shared Health’s Chief Medical Officer of Emergency Response Services Dr Rob Grierson said that response time is important in rural emergency situations..“If you have a high acuity patient, we need to be efficient and very timely in the support of the care providers that are looking after such a patient,” said Grierson. .“And then make an expeditious referral and transfer to a higher level of care.”.Grierson said VECTRS will try to keep patients as close to their homes as possible..“We can do more to try and manage the patients closer to home and support those care providers across the province whether it’s in a smaller hospital or nursing station and really provide them with the support and advice they need in this time of the current situation,” said Grierson..VECTRS staff includes a 24/7 emergency physician, an advanced practice respiratory therapist, and an advanced care paramedic, who responds to the calls..The VECTRS workers will assist in “complex patient moves” and provide clinical guidance..Southern Health-Sante Sud Chief Medical Officer Dr Denis Fortier expects VECTRS to “dramatically cut” how long it takes for rural healthcare centres to transfer a patient to a healthcare facility with the necessary care..“This advice will help determine appropriate transfer locations better and, in some instances, may prevent an unneeded transfer altogether,” said Fortier. .“As well, this service will help minimize the amount of time a rural health-care provider spends coordinating transfer plans.”.Manitoba plans to have VECTRS fully operational by May 2023.
The Manitoba government has announced a new healthcare program that aims to help “critical situations outside of Winnipeg," costing an annual $5 million..Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced the new service in Steinbach. It is called the Virtual Emergency Care and Transfer Resource Service (VECTRS), which intends to streamline patient transfers.. Audrey Gordon .VECTRS healthcare workers respond to calls from rural ERs and urgent care centres..Shared Health’s Chief Medical Officer of Emergency Response Services Dr Rob Grierson said that response time is important in rural emergency situations..“If you have a high acuity patient, we need to be efficient and very timely in the support of the care providers that are looking after such a patient,” said Grierson. .“And then make an expeditious referral and transfer to a higher level of care.”.Grierson said VECTRS will try to keep patients as close to their homes as possible..“We can do more to try and manage the patients closer to home and support those care providers across the province whether it’s in a smaller hospital or nursing station and really provide them with the support and advice they need in this time of the current situation,” said Grierson..VECTRS staff includes a 24/7 emergency physician, an advanced practice respiratory therapist, and an advanced care paramedic, who responds to the calls..The VECTRS workers will assist in “complex patient moves” and provide clinical guidance..Southern Health-Sante Sud Chief Medical Officer Dr Denis Fortier expects VECTRS to “dramatically cut” how long it takes for rural healthcare centres to transfer a patient to a healthcare facility with the necessary care..“This advice will help determine appropriate transfer locations better and, in some instances, may prevent an unneeded transfer altogether,” said Fortier. .“As well, this service will help minimize the amount of time a rural health-care provider spends coordinating transfer plans.”.Manitoba plans to have VECTRS fully operational by May 2023.
