Virtual Substance Use Care, Part 2: Considerations for Rural & Remote Virtual Care

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SHOW NOTES

Summary

In this episode, host David P. Ball and Dr. Alison Hamilton are back to talk to returning Season 2 guests, research scientist Dr. Geoff Bardwell, and nurse practitioner Kate Hodgson. Listeners may remember Geoff and Kate from Episode 1 – Substance use care in rural and remote contexts, of Season 2. Together, they discuss how OAT telehealth and other virtual services have changed in BC over the past 5 years. Geoff and Kate share unique perspectives about virtual substance use care in rural and remote areas of BC, including challenges and opportunities to meet the needs of local communities, how technology can be leveraged to advance this, and where it falls short.

Lineup

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• [1:30] – Kate Hodgson, Guest – Nurse Practitioner specializing in mental health and substance use, qathet General Hospital, AVI Health and Community Services
• [2:10] – Dr. Geoff Bardwell, Guest – Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, University of Waterloo; Affiliate research scientist, BCCSU
• [7:00] – Dr. Alison Hamilton, Co-host – Family and addiction medicine physician with locum experience in 13 rural and remote communities across six provinces and territories in Canada

Clinical Pearls

Here’s what listeners can take away from this episode:

1. Virtual care can help to overcome barriers to care but can also present new ones, like access to technology, which must be considered when implementing virtual solutions.
2. Increased access to resources is just as important for health care providers as it is for patients.
3. Virtual care must be grounded in human connection in order to be effective.

Resources

Mentioned in episode

• qathet OAT Access Study: Bardwell G, Jayathilake A, Pereira E. OAT Access in the qathet Region: Final Report. BC Centre on Substance Use: Vancouver, BC. February 11, 2026. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.30053.05604
• AVI Health and Community Services. Provides comprehensive programs promoting health, dignity, and well-being across Vancouver Island. https://avi.org/
• Vancouver Coastal Health. Lighthouse Virtual Substance Use Care Clinic. https://www.vch.ca/en/service/lighthouse-virtual-substance-use-care-clinic
• First Nations Health Authority. Virtual substance use and psychiatry service. https://fnha.ca/services-and-support/access-and-support/health-and-virtual-services/virtual-substance-use-and-psychiatry-service/
• The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) [Symposium]. https://cpdd.org/
• BCCSU. 24/7 Support Line. https://www.bccsu.ca/24-7/
• Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise (RACE) Line. https://www.raceconnect.ca/use-race

Supports for care providers

• RCCbc. Real-Time Virtual Support Service. https://rccbc.ca/initiatives/rtvs/
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC Virtual Care Practice Standard. [Online learning]. https://www.cpsbc.ca/licensees/cpd/ps-virtual-care
• Doctors of BC. Start Virtual Care: Integrating virtual care in your practice. https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/advice-support/doctors-technology-office/virtual-care/start-virtual-care
• Government of British Columbia. Provincial Opioid Treatment Access Line (POTAL). https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/mental-health-and-addictions/opioid-treatment-access-line
• Provincial Health Services Authority. Virtual visits. https://www.phsa.ca/health-professionals/professional-resources/virtual-visits
• Provincial Language Services. https://www.phsa.ca/our-services/programs-services/provincial-language-services
  • Interpreting services. https://www.phsa.ca/our-services/programs-services/provincial-language-services/interpreting

Supports for patients

• Canadian Administrator of Video Relay Service (CAV): enables Deaf, DeafBlind, hard-of-hearing, and other Canadians who use American Sign Language (ASL) or langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) as their primary language to communicate with voice telephone users through Internet-based video technology. https://srvcanadavrs.ca/en/
• Foundry Virtual BC. https://foundrybc.ca/foundry-virtual-bc/
• Interior Health. Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM) Clinic. https://www.interiorhealth.ca/services/virtual-addiction-medicine-vam-clinic
• Provincial Health Services Authority. Virtual visits: Patient resources. https://www.phsa.ca/health-professionals/professional-resources/virtual-visits/patient-resources#Prepare–for–a–visit
• United Way BC Helpline Services. The Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service (ADIRS). Free, confidential, multilingual information and referral regarding community resources for people in BC dealing with substance use and addiction issues. https://bc.211.ca/result/the-alcohol-and-drug-information-and-referral-service-adirs-9505601/
  • Lower Mainland: 604-660-9382
  • Elsewhere in BC: 1-800-663-1441

Videos

• Considerations for Providing Virtual Substance Use Related Care. BCCSU. 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZo68EelkiY
• Substance Use Disorder Care in Rural and Remote Communities. BCCSU. 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgVFWqyOdw4

Reports, statistics, and guidance

• Brar, R., Bruneau, J., Butt, P., Goyer, ME., Lim, R., Poulin, G., Sereda, A., Robinson, S., Ross, J., Wood, E. Medications and other clinical approaches to support physical distancing for people who use substances during the COVID-19 pandemic: National Rapid Guidance Document. Vancouver, British Columbia: Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse; June 22, 2020. 53 p. Version 1. https://crism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CRISM-Guidance-Medications-and-other-clinical-approaches-22062020-final.pdf
• British Columbia Centre on Substance Use. A Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder: 2023 Update. Published December 2023. https://www.bccsu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BC-OUD-Treatment-Guideline_2023-Update2.pdf
• British Columbia Centre on Substance Use. Patient Assessment for Opioid Agonist Treatment. Published August 2017. https://www.bccsu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Patient-Assessment-for-Opioid-Agonist-Treatment.pdf
• Bruneau J, Rehm J, Wild T, Wood E, Sako A, Swansburg J, Lam A. Telemedicine Support for Addiction Services: National Rapid Guidance Document. Montreal, Quebec: Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse. May 15th, 2020. 47 p. Version 1. https://crism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/CRISM-National-Rapid-Guidance-Telemedicine-V1.pdf
• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA). (n.d.). Considerations for Virtual Services and Supports for Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders https://www.ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2021-10/CCSA-Virtual-Services-Supports-Substance-Use-Concurrent-Disorders-Policy-Brief-2021-en.pdf

Articles

• Hayashi K, Reading D, Bach P, Choi JC, Hedden L, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K. Engagement with and acceptability of telephone-based telemedicine in addiction care in Vancouver, Canada, 2020–2023 J Addict Med. DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001612