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The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Ontario Minister of Health, presents Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon with a certificate of achievement to mark the fifth anniversary of the launch of the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (RC VTAC). Minister Jones was in Renfrew on March 27 to celebrate the milestone and tour the Clinical Assessment Centre and Paramedic Base on O’Brien Road. Photo by Pablo Bakovic
RELEASE DATE:
March 31, 2025
A made-in-Renfrew-County solution to address health-care needs in response to COVID-19, launched mere days after the declaration of the global pandemic, has marked its fifth anniversary as it continues to evolve to provide impactful service for residents who do not have access to primary care.
The Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (RC VTAC), a collaboration between family doctors, the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service, primary-care teams, Renfrew County Hospitals, and the Renfrew County and District Health Unit, officially launched on March 27, 2020. The goal was to reduce demands on local Emergency Departments and provide Renfrew County residents, who did not have a family physician or could not access their family physician, with the appropriate level of care to address health-care concerns, including those related to COVID-19.
To mark this significant milestone, the Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, was in Renfrew to tour the Clinical Assessment Centre and Paramedic Base on March 27. She was joined by MPP Billy Denault, elected officials, RC VTAC staff and other distinguished guests for the formal remarks in the atrium of Renfrew County Place.
“On behalf of Premier Ford and our entire government, I want to congratulate the world-class team at the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre on a successful five years,” said Minister Jones. “The innovative model of RC VTAC and the services you provide are a critical piece of our government’s work to connect more people to the care they need, when they need it, close to home.”
She presented Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon with a certificate of achievement to mark the RC VTAC anniversary and recognized Paramedic Chief Michael Nolan for his quick actions in response to the plane crash at Toronto Pearson Airport in February. Chief Nolan presented Minister Jones with a helmet and epaulettes to bestow the distinction of Honorary Paramedic Chief.
The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Ontario Minister of Health, was bestowed the distinction of Honorary Paramedic Chief by County of Renfrew Paramedic Chief Michael Nolan, who presented the Minister with her own helmet and epaulettes during a visit to Renfrew on March 27 to mark the fifth anniversary of the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre. Photo by Pablo Bakovic
MPP Denault was excited to welcome Minister Jones to Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke to celebrate the innovative and local asset of RC VTAC.
“RC VTAC’s five years of service to our community marks a milestone that is befitting of an asset so important to provide care to those who need it,” he said. “It is a testament to our government’s commitment to provide access to quality care that we have achieved this together in partnership with the County of Renfrew and the Province of Ontario.”
RC VTAC continues to expand through collaborative efforts to meet the needs of the community, with approximately 30,000 people in Renfrew County still without a family doctor. In 2024, RC VTAC received nearly 74,000 calls and continually helps to divert 1,000 Emergency Room visits per month.
Through RC VTAC, Physicians and Paramedics assess and manage health concerns in multiple ways depending on the needs of individual callers. This includes:
- Phone appointments
- Video appointments
- In-home assessments and diagnostic testing by Community Paramedics
- Referral to other services, including mental health support.
Callers may also be directed to in-person Clinical Assessment Centres in Pembroke, Renfrew, Arnprior, Petawawa, and Eganville where they can be examined by Paramedics who work collaboratively with Physicians to make diagnoses. Options to further expand clinic locations are always being explored to best serve the residents of Renfrew County.
Another integral part of RC VTAC is Integrated Virtual Care (IVC), the next step in hybrid care, which provides comprehensive care to patients who do not have access to a family physician or a Family Health Team. Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre (PCFHC) is the lead organization with two satellite locations – the West Champlain Family Health Team in Pembroke and the North Renfrew Family Health Team in Deep River.
The IVC family physicians are embedded into the Petawawa Centennial Family Health Team (FHT), working predominantly remotely, fully supported by the FHT's local interdisciplinary health-care providers (Dietitian, Social Worker, Pharmacist, Respiratory Therapist, Midwife, Registered Practical Nurse, Nurse Practitioner). IVC patients access in-person care at home and virtually depending on their individual needs and preferences. To date, nearly 7,000 patients have been attached to a named family physician, and there have been more than 30,000 physician appointments.
Permanent funding for RC VTAC was announced in March 2023 with a $3.2 million annual investment by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health.
“RC VTAC continues to play a crucial role in providing accessible health-care services to residents across Renfrew County. RC VTAC helps bridge the gap in health-care access, ensuring that residents receive timely medical advice and support without needing to travel long distances,” said Warden Emon. “Since its inception in March 2020, RC VTAC has emerged as a trusted and essential component of the local health-care system, ensuring that residents receive the care they need while alleviating pressure on traditional health-care facilities.”
In 2022, the County of Renfrew was honoured with the Peter J. Marshall Innovation Award by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and RC VTAC received the Community Impact Award from the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards Gala. In 2023, IVC received the Bright Lights Award from the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario.
Recent feedback reveals high satisfaction rates among patients utilizing RC VTAC, with 86% of respondents reporting satisfaction or high satisfaction with their experience. Satisfaction was notably high across all service modalities: 89% for virtual appointments, 92% for hybrid appointments, and an impressive 98% for in-person paramedic appointments.
"RC VTAC enhances timely access to integrated health-care services for all residents, addressing any non-emergency medical concerns they may have,” noted Chief Nolan. “It has served tens of thousands of residents, leading to fewer 911 calls and emergency department visits, thereby preserving these critical resources for those experiencing life-threatening emergencies."
Learn more at www.rcvtac.ca or call 1-844-727-6404, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Kelley Chief Administrative Officer 613-735-7288
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
Members of Renfrew County Council attended the fifth anniversary celebration for the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre in Renfrew on March 27. Joining the Honourable Sylvia Jones (centre), Deputy Premier and Ontario Minister of Health, were (from left) Councillors Gary Serviss and Lori Hoddinott, MPP Billy Denault, and Councillors Dan Lynch, Rob Weir, Jennifer Murphy, Neil Nicholson and James Brose. Photo by Pablo Bakovic
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