Virtual, primary care dominate N.B. legislative committee with health officials

A New Brunswick committee focused on virtual and primary care.

New Brunswick’s Department of Health civil servants were peppered with questions Tuesday during a legislative committee where the focus ranged from primary care to the future of virtual health care.

Deputy Minister Eric Beaulieu was asked multiple times why the province made the decision to change its provider of virtual health care.

Over the last four years, many New Brunswickers who could not access primary care turned to eVisitNB, a New Brunswick company that has provided about one million consults for over 300,000 residents.

Recently, the government launched a request for proposal process for the service, and selected a different company headquartered in Luxembourg.

Beaulieu said the company has had a presence in New Brunswick for more than three decades, with 150 employees stationed here, but declined to provide specific details why eVisitNB’s submission wasn’t successful.

“The virtual service that was put in place in 2022 was never sent RFP,” he told the committee. “The approach is always to get the best possible procurement, the best possible service for New Brunswickers…seeing what is out there, seeing what enhancements can be done…is a normal course of business.”

He reiterated the department supports virtual care, but also said it’s not the best fit for everyone. Beaulieu identified one patient who had to access the service about 90 times in one year – a person who clearly had high needs and should have access to a primary care practitioner.

Bill Hogan, Progressive Conservative MLA and health-care critic, asked if there is a mechanism in place to fast-track these patients so they can have access to primary care.

Beaulieu said there are several approaches, by both Health Link and the regional health authorities, that flag these patients as those who need to be “attached.”

But he couldn’t say how many of those patients have been connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner in the last few years. He did say he believes about 40 per cent of the requests made to eVisitNB are mental health related.

In an email to its clients, eVisitNB said it will operate until March 31, and is working to ensure a “smooth transition.”

Health Minister John Dornan said in a statement there will not be a lapse in virtual care service when the transition happens March 31.

“Virtual care is an integral part of New Brunswick’s health-care system, and let me be clear: it will continue to be available to all New Brunswickers,” he said in an emailed statement.

He promised there will be no interruption in care on April 1.

Primary care success challenged

Over the last year, Premier Susan Holt has touted the opening and expansion of collaborative care clinics as successfully removing patients from the primary care waitlist.

But during her state of the province speech, she revealed the number of people waiting has actually increased by about 40,000. Now about a third of the province do not have access to primary care.

Green Party Leader David Coon asked how funding provided to Horizon and Vitalite Health Networks to bolster primary care – $8 and $13 million respectively – has helped.

“How many additional new patients were rostered as a result?” Coon asked.

Beaulieu said he would try to access that information.

Coon asked if efforts were being made in specific parts of the province, where the need for primary care is greater.

He pointed to the greater Fredericton area, where about 36 per cent of people are without providers. Again, Beaulieu said he would try to find that information.

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