# Healthcare Providers’ Experiences Accessing Real-Time Virtual Support: Informing More Equitable and Inclusive Healthcare Access in British Columbia’s Rural, Remote, First Nations, and Other Indigenous Peoples and Communities

## TL;DR

This study explores how healthcare providers in rural and Indigenous communities in British Columbia use virtual support services to improve care delivery and provider well-being.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the benefits and challenges of real-time virtual support for healthcare providers in underserved communities.

## Key findings

- RTVS increased clinical confidence and reduced provider anxiety among healthcare workers.
- Providers reported reduced administrative burden and improved recruitment and retention.
- Service disruptions and limited Wi-Fi availability were identified as key challenges.

## Abstract

Healthcare Providers (HCPs) serving Rural, Remote, First Nations, and other Indigenous (RRFNI) communities face unique challenges in delivering longitudinal care due to geographic isolation. The Real-Time Virtual Support Services (RTVS) network aims to improve equitable access to healthcare and provide collegial support for HCPs in RRFNI communities across British Columbia. The objective of this study was to understand HCPs’ experiences with RTVS and identify improvement areas. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with HCPs that were recorded, transcribed, and openly coded. Twenty HCPs using RTVS were interviewed during 2022-2023. The constant comparative method was used to develop themes. Themes focused on RTVS’s benefits and outcomes including increased clinical confidence, reduced provider anxiety, respectful and collegial support, reduced administrative burden, and recruitment and retention support. Challenges included occasional service disruptions and limited Wi-Fi availability. These findings provide in-depth and contextualized feedback informing the development of RTVS.