Four emergency departments in Nova Scotia Health’s eastern zone are trying out a virtual care option.

It’s being tested over the next few weeks at the Eastern Memorial Hospital in Canso, Guysborough Memorial Hospital, St. Mary’s Memorial Hospital in Sherbrooke, and Strait Richmond Hospital in Evanston.

Under the pilot project, patients with urgent, but non-life-threatening health matters could be treated virtually.

Some examples of health concerns that could be seen by the virtual urgent service include coughs, colds, sprains, and urinary tract infections.

Nova Scotia Health says patients who come to emergency departments and need further assessment or are not appropriate for virtual care will be treated by the on-site team.

The pilot will be evaluated to determine if this is a care option that works elsewhere.