Virtual Emergency Physician program comes to Fort Macleod, Milk River

Two hospital emergency departments in the region are joining Alberta’s almost two-year-old Virtual Emergency Physician program or VEP.

Patients needing non-urgent medical attention at either the Fort Macleod or Milk River health centres will now be able to access the service. 

The idea is for nursing staff and/or the patient to speak with a doctor directly by either video link or telephone to assess the situation and treatment. 

Since launching in January 2025, the VEP program has supported more than a dozen rural Alberta facilities, eliminating 98 percent of ER disruptions.