The official launch of the Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (VTAC) in Bourget was celebrated on Thursday, April 9, with residents, dignitaries, and health care staff in attendance. Since its initial launch in February, the VTAC has improved access to non-urgent health care for more than 240 patients.
VTAC provides residents living in the Prescott-Russell region with access to care for non-urgent health concerns, including infants, children, and adults. Services are offered in person at the Centre de santé Communautaire de l’Estrie (CSCE) in Bourget, virtually, or through hybrid appointments.
“We were delighted to offer a tour of our clinic to the region’s elected officials and to the project’s partners during the event,” CSCE Executive Director Lyne Martineau said.
“It also ensures access to bilingual services, tailored to the local realities of our community. This is a great example of collaboration between UCPR and the CSCE, to the direct benefit of the community,” she said.
Care is provided by a nurse practitioner and community paramedics.
United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) Warden Mario Zanth said, “There is a need for more accessible health care in our region, and this centre will help address that need. Many people are struggling to find a family physician or nurse practitioner, but now, until they do find one, this VTAC can help provide the non-urgent health care they need.”
“In rural communities such as our own, we face certain realities and challenges in accessing health care. This service is well tailored to our community, and I want to thank all the individuals who made this happen,” Zanth said.
Member of Provincial Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Stéphane Sarrazin said, “Our government, through the Ministry of Health, was pleased to invest nearly $1.3 million to support this initiative. The project also highlights the importance of supporting local initiatives, especially since communities understand their needs better than anyone else.”
“By supporting these solutions, we are strengthening our health care system and enabling it to be more agile and patient-centred,” Sarrazin noted.
