June 30, 2026
New funding has secured 24/7 availability of two Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) pathways operated by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc).
As of July 1, rural providers will once again have 24/7 access to the Child Health Advice in ReaL-time Electronically (CHARLiE/pediatrics) and Maternity and Babies Advice Line (MaBAL/maternity and women’s health) pathways.
These pathways will be available to any rural health care provider in BC whenever they need clinical help. They are part of a suite of virtual services accessed by more than 160 First Nations, rural and remote communities.
RTVS pathways support rural recruitment and retention by being a safety net for rural providers, so that they have someone to call when they are working alone or in small teams. The services also allow patients to be treated closer to home with hybrid care, a mix of on-the-ground support paired with enhanced access to virtual specialist support.
The funding was recently announced by the BC Government and Doctors of BC as part of the Physician Main Agreement (PMA).
For more information, please visit the Rural Coordination Centre of BC.