TIGNISH, P.E.I. — Dr. Declan Fox, who retired from his medical practice at Tignish Health Centre and returned to his native Ireland in September, has started seeing his patients again, virtually.
Prior to leaving P.E.I., Fox agreed to pioneer a virtual health care clinic whereby patients can attend the health centre and be seen by Fox from his home office in Ireland.
He uses a secure connection similar to the tele-rounding service used at Western Hospital for patients who do not have an attending physician.
Maple, the telehealth company that delivered tele-rounding to Western Hospital, is also providing the virtual care clinic platform for the Tignish Health Centre.
Only four patients were seen during the launch of virtual health on Wednesday and that was by design, explained health centre manager Wendy Arsenault.
"It was to try it out," said Arsenault.
“And it went really well.”
She said staff will be taking appointments for subsequent Wednesdays.
In the meantime, she reports efforts to recruit a fulltime physician for the health centre continue.
