About Us
Accessibility to healthcare services is one of the main principles outlined in the Canada Health Act, but for many Saskatchewan residents, receiving timely and appropriate care is a significant challenge. Our vast and sparsely populated landscape contributes to limited services and staff shortages in many areas of the province. For the one-third of the provincial population living in rural or remote areas, this often means longer wait times, delayed treatments, and long-distance travel for appointments. Indigenous populations in particular face significant disparities in accessing culturally appropriate and sensitive care due to historical inequities and systematic barriers.
The Virtual Health Hub is set to transform our healthcare system and bridge these gaps by offering services entirely remotely under a centralized purposely designed state-of-the-art facility being built at the Whitecap Dakota Nation in Saskatchewan.
By connecting with local community healthcare providers and employing advanced remote presence technologies to provide a variety of services, patients can receive timely and high-quality treatment closer to home.
We have partnered with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) to develop a Virtual Care Assistant applied certificate program. Indigenous learners are at the core of SIIT, representing over 90% of the student body. Graduates of this program will be equipped with the necessary skills to support clinicians in remotely delivering virtual healthcare services and locally assist patients in accessing virtual care in their home communities.
Our mission is to enhance access to healthcare for vulnerable populations in Saskatchewan by building strong community partnerships, identifying essential services, and leveraging remote presence robotics to deliver care where it’s needed most.
Engaging with Our Communities
Relationship building and community engagement is at the heart of our remote presence model of healthcare delivery. As each community and health care infrastructure is different, this process is particularly critical for Indigenous communities that are diverse in their historical and cultural contexts. We take a tailored approach by listening and working with local leadership and on-site healthcare providers to gain an understanding of the unique needs for services at each community before determining and deploying the most suitable technologies. We highly prioritize fostering relationships and open communication between remote service providers and local healthcare staff as a fundamental guide to our strategy.
Utilizing Cutting-Edge Technology to Deliver Care from Anywhere
Remote presence technology allows healthcare providers to connect with patients at a distance in real time via internet, cell networks or low orbiting satellites. Robotic remote presence systems give a sense to the clinician to be “present” in the remote location. We use AI collaborators and advanced virtual care devices such as dedicated portable diagnostic technologies, point of care analyzers for blood and body chemistry, imaging diagnostic systems such as robotic ultrasonography and remote patient monitoring sensors to provide virtual care. These technologies are combined with secure video conferencing communication to provide meaningful interactions with patients, their families, and local healthcare providers.
The patient experience is greatly enhanced by virtual care technology. Rather than endure long-distance travel or long wait times for appointments, patients can receive care in familiar environments closer to their loved ones and support networks.