Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library

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Virtual Care @ your Library Connecting You with Health Professionals

Have you heard of Maple?

Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library has partnered with the Aberdeen Health Foundation and Government of Nova Scotia to support Pictou County & Antigonish County residents as they navigate accessing health services and health professionals through Maple and VirtualCareNS.

• Are you on the Need a Family Practice Registry?
  
• Have you received your email invite for the Free version of Maple from NS Health?
  
• Do you need a quiet space to have a doctor’s appointment?
  
• Do you need internet or devices to get connected?
  
• Do you need to have an appointment with your health care provider or a specialist virtually due
  to travel etc.?

What is Virtual Care @ Your Library?

Our Virtual Care @ Your Library program is about connecting Pictou County & Antigonish County residents with Primary Care Provider through virtual care platforms.

The library provides the technology and the quiet space for patients to have consultations with the doctors on Maple. We meet one-on-one with patients, and help them to set up their email accounts and their Maple Virtual Care accounts on their devices. We provide morning and afternoon appointment times for whatever their needs may be.

For residents who have a primary care provider already, we can provide the technology and quiet space for appointments via zoom. We can coordinate with doctors’ offices for appointments.

We have four branch library locations where patients can have the quiet space needed for privacy: Antigonish Library, Westville Library, River John Library, and New Glasgow Library.

What is Maple?

Maple is the program that connects patients with doctors in Canada virtually. Maple uses video, audio and messaging type of platforms.

VirtualCareNS provides FREE access to Maple virtual care, for Nova Scotia residents without a primary care provider.

How do I get started?

If you are already on the Need a Family Practice Registry, you should be receiving an email from Nova Scotia Health with a registration link for a free version of Maple.

If you haven't received an email from Virtual Care with the free registration link, or if you may have lost or deleted your invitation email, we can help!

To check if you've received your invitation to VirtualCareNS, follow these steps:

• Have your NS Health Card Number ready before you begin
• Visit the VirtualCareNS website
• Click the green REGISTER NOW button
• Fill out the registration information. If your invitation email was sent, you should be able to register for free access to Virtual Care through Maple.
• If you're unable to register, you may not have been sent an invitation email yet.
  • **Please note that invitation emails are being sent out in phases by Nova Scotia Health. Wait times to receive invitations are based on the community you live in and how long you've been on the Need a Family Practice Registry.

If you need assistance with any of these steps, contact our Virtual Care Technician!

I already have a Virtual Care appointment, but I don't have...

• Computers and mobile devices
• Webcams
• Scanners and printers
• Wireless internet
• Zoom video conferencing
• Private, quiet appointment space
• In-person technology support from our library staff and Virtual Care Technician

Whether you need internet access, a quiet place to have your appointment, or technology support-- we're here to help! Contact your local library, or our Virtual Care Technician, to learn more.

Contact

Contact our Virtual Care Technician, Melissa, for information and support getting connected virtually!

Phone: 902-759-5227
Email: virtualcare@parl.ns.ca

Virtual Care @ your Library - A Pictou County Pilot Project

The Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library, the Government of Nova Scotia, and the Aberdeen Health Foundation are working in partnership to create more inclusive access to digital health care.

Virtual Care @ Your Library began as a pilot program in Pictou County, intended to reduce barriers to accessing virtual care, by providing in-person support, assistance with registration and navigation of VirtualCareNS and Maple, private appointment spaces, and access to technology.

This pilot project operated for one year, beginning February 1, 2022.

In 2023, the project was renewed and expanded to serve residents of Antigonish County!