More than 142,000 residents of Nova Scotia – over 14 percent of the population – were on the waiting list for a family doctor in the province as of September 1.

Now, while some provinces are moving away from virtual care, Nova Scotia is making it a priority for residents waiting to get a family doctor.

Virtual Care Nova Scotia provides patients without a doctor access to physicians and nurse practitioners through an app or website from the Canadian startup Maple. These patients can also be referred to a network of in-person clinics throughout the province when a video call or phone call isn’t sufficient.

It’s a program that also has its challenges – with some patients reporting waiting hours or days for an appointment on the virtual platform.

Additionally, about 20 percent of people who speak with a medical specialist at Maple are referred to one of the 33 in-person clinics in the province, which serve both current and virtual patients.

At these clinics, patients can get a physical exam, receive test results, and obtain ongoing care for chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease – even without a specialized family doctor.

Once the patient’s health is better managed, they will be returned to virtual care through Maple.

Ultimately, the goal of virtual care in Nova Scotia is not to replace the family practice system. Instead, Dr. Tara Sampalli, the senior scientific director at the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Center, stated it will be enhanced until capacity is built for the thousands waiting for a family doctor.