Rural Saskatchewan turns to virtual care

- Media Release, Gov’t SK

March 16, 2026

key points from this story:

• Rural patients face long travel times
• Doctor shortages strain rural healthcare
• Virtual care offers faster access
• Dialogue data shows quick connections
• Most concerns resolved without ER visits
• Virtual care complements local clinics

Many rural Saskatchewanians often spend more time travelling to see a doctor than they do in the exam room. With doctor shortages in some areas, virtual care is emerging as a practical lifeline for families who can’t always access in-person care. A 2024 report from the University of Regina’s Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit found that many rural residents in Saskatchewan travel 45 minutes to more than an hour to access healthcare services. At the same time, healthcare vacancy rates increased significantly between 2019 and 2023, resulting in clinic closures, reduced hours, and fewer available primary care providers in some communities.

According to new data from Dialogue, Canada’s premier employer-funded virtual care and wellness platform, most health issues can be addressed remotely, reducing wait times and saving Saskatchewan patients millions of kilometres in travel. The data shows that 65 per cent of visits result in a prescription, 8 per cent in a referral, and fewer than 7 per cent in emergency room visits. On average, patients connect with a medical professional within one hour - a stark contrast to the days or even weeks many rural residents wait for an in-person appointment.

“Reduced availability of primary care services, combined with long distances to clinics or hospitals, creates significant barriers to timely care for rural families,” said Dr. Marc Robin, Dialogue’s Medical Director and a practicing physician. “Employer-funded-virtual-care helps relieve some of that pressure by connecting people to medical advice, prescriptions, and follow-ups without adding to already overburdened clinics and emergency departments.”

Dialogue’s virtual platform connects patients with licensed physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals, offering services ranging from medical consultations for non-emergency and chronic conditions to counselling, all accessible from home. As communities, employers, and healthcare providers work together to bridge access gaps, virtual care is becoming an essential part of the solution. It complements local clinics and hospitals by helping patients manage everyday health needs from home, allowing in-person resources to focus on more complex cases. For many rural families, virtual care means less time on the road, fewer missed workdays, and faster access to prescriptions, referrals, and follow-up care.

“Saskatchewanians understand that timely access matters,” said Dr. Marc Robin. “Virtual care works alongside the health system to make that possible, especially for communities that have faced long waits or travel distances.” As Saskatchewan continues to grapple with healthcare staffing and access challenges, virtual care is proving to be more than a convenience; it’s becoming an essential part of how care is delivered, especially outside the province’s major cities.