Residents in rural Saskatchewan who often face barriers for their healthcare needs due to where they live, will have a new virtual healthcare facility on Whitecap Dakota First Nation land, thanks to a partnership between Virtual Health Hub (VHH) and CAN Health Network who are launching two projects with Canadian-made technologies.
In partnership with the Whitecap Dakota Nation and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, VHH is a virtual healthcare centre providing healthcare to Saskatchewan’s remote, rural and northern communities. It will use advanced virtual care and artificial intelligence technologies to provide high-quality service to undeserved communities.
The two projects are Luxsonic from Saskatchewan which is a virtual imaging platform that allows radiologists to view and interpret diagnostic images through virtual reality, helping to support residents in areas with limited or no specialists available. The second project is Virtual Hallway from Nova Scotia which is a secure digital platform physicians can use to connect quickly with specialists to optimize the care needs of their patients without delays.
Whitecap Dakota Nation Chief Darcy Bear says there is a high infant mortality rate in Northern Saskatchewan, because in order for a woman to get an ultrasound it’s a three-day process. “They have to fly them out of the north. They go to Prince Albert or Saskatoon, and they can’t bring their spouse with them. They have to travel alone, and it’s a simple procedure. So, now with robotics and artificial intelligence, we can now have robotic arms in our North. The stenographer is actually right here in this building, and they can actually do the ultrasound in real time.”
CEO of Luxsonic is Dr. Mike Wesolowski and says through the virtual hub, their technology will power a mobile imaging pod that rotates through northern communities. “Local clinical assistants will work on site with virtual technologists and radiologists, and they will connect in real time using our platform, ensuring that patients get the same standard of care that they would in Saskatchewan or Regina without having to leave their community. So, a patient in Stanley Mission can stay in Stanley Mission to receive the best health care possible.”
When it comes to Virtual Hallway, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Luke Napier says the Nova Scotia-based company will help serve patients quickly. “This fall, Virtual Hallway will be connecting rural primary care providers with urban specialists. So, that means that the family doctor in La Ronge can speak to a psychiatrist in Saskatoon to get a care plan for their patient, that otherwise would have required significant travel and had taken months.”
Doctor Napier says where you live should never determine the care you get.
This collaboration supports technologies made in Canada and has created opportunities for Indigenous leadership in virtual health delivery. There will be a new fully operational healthcare centre on Whitecap Dakota Nation land in February 2027.
