The City of Elliot Lake is helping finance telehealth.
Councillor Norman Mann, who also chairs the Finance and Administration Committee, says there are hundreds of people in Elliot Lake who do not have a doctor and end up going to the emergency department for care since they have no other avenue.
To offset the stress on the department, he asked the council to consider supporting a virtual clinic where a physician could be made available for orphaned patients through the Ontario Telehealth Network, which would be overseen by the local Family Health Team.
Not only did the council agreed to fund the clinic until the end of this year at a cost of $7,200, but it will also be on the table for discussion as part of the 2020 municipal budget.
The goal is to open the virtual clinic five days a week next year at a cost of around $72,000.
For now, the virtual clinic would be open at least two days of the week.