Rural ER doctors in B.C., Ont. say peer-to-peer support lines vital

With many remote or rural communities facing staffing shortages that lead to temporary ED closures, rural emergency physicians believe knowing peer support’s available can help retain doctors. In B.C., the support program’s taking it one step further, with doctors filling overnight vacancies in EDs that would otherwise close for a few hours. With the Ont.’s peer-to-peer support program, doctors in 27 remote hospitals can call and get the thoughts of a colleague who isn't attending to their own patients or running their own ER. That pilot launched in Oct. and has funding until end of March. Other peer-to-peer support programs were tried in the past. One ended after only six months when funding dried up and physicians volunteering their time struggled to take on shifts.