Medicine Hat RN is helping Albertans

By Joan Janzen

There’s been much discussion regarding people’s access to healthcare in Alberta. The situation can appear overwhelming to some, while others are asking themselves how they can help. One of those individuals is Matthew Jubelius, a Registered Nurse (RN) in Medicine Hat.

Matthew has been an RN since 2007. His extensive career has also involved teaching nursing, and now he has undertaken a new venture called Virtunurse, which was established in 2022.

Matthew Jubelius is an RN in Medicine Hat. PHOTO SUPPLIED

“Getting access to care has been a big challenge, and the pandemic shattered it, especially in southern Alberta,” Matthew observed. As someone who is passionate about helping people, he was pondering how he could help.

Virtunurse enables people to make a virtual appointment and speak to an experienced Registered Nurse, Monday to Friday, for all their non-prescription and non-critical health needs. “RNs are highly capable professionals who care for patients daily,” Matthew said.

The new service offers access to healthcare advice and mental health and wellness support without having to wait in line. It also provides assessments, consultation, medical and allied health referrals, and a nursing letter of workplace absence while helping to eliminate stress from emergency departments.

“With few doctors taking on patients, people have been forced to go to a walk-in clinic that usually reaches its daily patient quota by 9 a.m. Those who cannot get access then go to the Emergency Department for non-critical health concerns, waiting several hours to be seen, placing additional stress on an already overwhelmed system,” Matthew explained.

Virtunurse offers face-to-face clinical services in a timely fashion. You simply go to their website and book an appointment in three clicks. You select your time and service and length of appointment. First-time appointments may take a bit longer as personal information is collected, but within three hours or less, you will be ensured a face-to-face virtual appointment with an RN.

“Ultimately, when people need healthcare, they want that face-to-face interaction. This is a way we can serve more people,” he noted. “We are building relationships with our community.”

‘Virtu’ in the name Virtunurse, not only stands for virtual but virtue. “Virtue, by definition, is ‘good,’” Matthew said. It’s the type of quality service that he wants to provide.

Matthew hopes his service will grow, eventually including nurses in different cities. “That way, we know who to refer patients to and are better able to serve our community,” he explained. “I see we’ll eventually need pediatric nurses as well.”

In some cases, health benefits will cover the cost of nursing services, and receipts can be saved to be utilized for tax purposes. Matthew said the response to this service has been ‘super positive.’

“As an experienced Registered Nurse, my heart kept getting broken at the lack of healthcare access. I just want to help our community and other Albertans who need access,” he stated.

You can gain that access at www.virtunurse.ca.