Virtual care shows \u2018positive results\u2019 at Grand Manan Hospital: Horizon<\/p>\n
Published Nov 18, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0day ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Horizon Health Network is \u201cexploring options\u201d to extend its contract with Toronto-based Teladoc Health Canada, citing recent success with a virtual care pilot project despite a bumpy start.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to keep reading.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Horizon pulled the plug<\/a> on the project at the Sussex Health Centre \u2013 one of two rural hospitals selected for the initiative launched under the former Higgs Progressive Conservative government.<\/p>\n Horizon moved the virtual care technology over to Grand Manan Hospital, while maintaining the service at Charlotte County Hospital in St. Stephen, for the rest of the one-year pilot project, which was set to run until the end of October.<\/p>\n Horizon is now finalizing its \u201ccomprehensive evaluation\u201d of the virtual emergency department (ED) pilot project, but so far, the initial results are promising, according to Greg Doiron, vice-president of clinical operations for Horizon Health Network.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the past year, Teladoc has shown positive results in improving wait times for lower-acuity medical needs, the rate of patients leaving the ED without being seen and ED length of stay, with very high patient satisfaction results,\u201d Doiron said in a statement.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n One hundred per cent of Grand Manan Hospital patients, for example, were assessed by a physician after-hours thanks to virtual coverage compared to 60 per cent when there wasn\u2019t virtual coverage, according to Horizon Health Network.<\/p>\n Ninety-eight per cent of 134 Grand Manan patients who presented during Teladoc shifts between June and September \u201creported that they were fully treated by the virtual physician, with no in-person backup required,\u201d Horizon noted.<\/p>\n Patient transfers were also about 32 per cent faster at Grand Manan Hospital during Teladoc shifts, Horizon added, while patient satisfaction averaged 9.7 out of 10 for the pilot project.<\/p>\n Grand Manan Mayor Bonnie Morse couldn\u2019t speak highly enough of the difference the virtual care service is making for her residents.<\/p>\n Morning Email Telegraph-Journal<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n While the Grand Manan emergency department is open 24\/7, Morse said it relies on just an on-call physician after hours. Oftentimes, she said, that physician, who has already worked all day, may not be called in to treat a patient presenting with a minor ailment.<\/p>\n But those minor ailments can now be treated with the help of Teladoc, which connects patients with a physician by video. That physician can diagnose and prescribe by performing assessments with the help of on-site nurses using electronic stethoscopes and handheld cameras.<\/p>\n \u201cI think (virtual care) has provided an extra level of service without burning out the doctors who are on call covering the ER and outpatients for a week at a time,\u201d Morse said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not overtaxing them, but you\u2019re also still getting that level of treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Grand Manan has three doctors for its 2,600 residents, Morse said. These doctors work in family practice, staff the island\u2019s ER and care for outpatients.<\/p>\n Grand Manan council recently authorized a letter to be sent on behalf of the island to Health Minister John Dornan to show support for the Teladoc project.<\/p>\n \u201cMy understanding is (Teladoc) was designed for remote communities in Newfoundland,\u201d Morse said. \u201cCertainly there are some similarities between Grand Manan and some of the remote places of Newfoundland as well, so it\u2019s a system that I think has really done what it was designed to do on Grand Manan.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had really good feedback on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Virtual care an option for Stella Maris<\/p>\n Earlier this year, when Teladoc was pulled out of the Sussex hospital, Dornan told reporters that the technology hadn\u2019t added \u201cone minute\u201d to the hospital\u2019s ER hours.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He explained that Teladoc Health Canada \u2013 the company contracted to provide the service \u2013 requires a local physician to be on call in case of major emergencies.<\/p>\n However, Dornan, who is also a doctor, hasn\u2019t ruled out virtual care as an option for some rural hospitals in New Brunswick despite pushback from fellow doctors.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the New Brunswick Medical Society came out strongly against the virtual care pilot project, arguing it was a waste of government money and has lured some doctors already working in New Brunswick away to Teladoc.<\/p>\n The medical society, which represents the province\u2019s doctors, went so far as taking Horizon to court in an attempt to get an unredacted copy of the contract<\/a> signed with Teladoc. That court action was discontinued last month.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n![\"Horizon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1118-lb-teladoc-folo-1.jpg\")
Horizon Health Network is ‘exploring options’ to extend its contract with Teladoc Health Canada, which provides virtual emergency room care on Grand Manan and in St. Stephen. Photo by Jackson Doughart\/Brunswick NewsArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Telegraph-Journal\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.0.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tj.svg\"){kind=logo}
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<\/p>\n![\"Grand](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1118-lb-teladoc-folo-2.jpg\")
Grand Manan Hospital, pictured here, has seen \u2018positive results\u2019 through the implementation of a virtual care pilot project in its emergency department, according to Horizon Health Network. Photo by Jackson Doughart\/Brunswick News<\/p>\n