Calgary's Crushing Flu Season: Are Virtual Doctors Your Best Bet?
The Gist
Calgarians are undoubtedly feeling the squeeze, battling what many are calling “the worst flu ever,” a sentiment echoed in a recent r/alberta post from December 18, 2025, where one local detailed their “monster flu” and the agony of packed walk-in clinics. This isn't just anecdotal; our city's emergency rooms have been significantly impacted, reported as \"slammed\" and \"crushed\" by a surge in influenza patients since early December. The 2025 flu season has seen a rapid increase in respiratory illnesses, with provincial data as of December 6 revealing thousands of lab-confirmed cases and hundreds of hospitalizations across Alberta. In this landscape of overwhelmed facilities, many are asking: can virtual care, like Your Doctors Online, genuinely provide a viable alternative?
For those feeling too unwell to venture out, Your Doctors Online offers a lifeline with virtual consultations available to Alberta residents through secure video, audio, and text options.
Impact on Calgarians
Imagine being stuck at home with severe flu symptoms, dreading the thought of braving Deerfoot Trail or the sardine-can reality of a local walk-in clinic. For Calgarians, this scenario is all too real, especially with our city's average walk-in clinic wait times spiking from 28 minutes in 2022 to a staggering 68 minutes in 2023 – more than doubling. Virtual care services aim to alleviate this burden.
Platforms like Your Doctors Online allow you to receive an assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for various common conditions, including cold, flu, and fever, all from the comfort of your couch. Need a prescription for antiviral medications like Tamiflu? They can provide online prescriptions, sending them directly to your local pharmacy if clinically indicated after an evaluation. And for those crucial work or school absences, a doctor's note can be issued, often within minutes or 30 minutes of a consultation. Additionally, these telehealth services can facilitate lab requisitions for blood work or imaging, as well as specialist referrals when medically appropriate, bypassing the initial in-person visit hurdle. Crucially, most physician-provided telehealth services are covered under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), meaning basic consultations typically come with no direct cost to the patient.
The Reality Check
While the convenience is undeniable, the quality of care remains paramount. The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) upholds a \"Virtual Care\" standard of practice, ensuring that remote care adheres to the same professional and ethical standards for quality, privacy, and legal obligations as in-person visits. The Alberta government has further solidified its commitment to virtual care by permanently introducing new virtual billing codes into the Schedule of Medical Benefits. Companies like TelePlusCare also confirm that their online doctor's notes are issued by licensed Alberta physicians, following Alberta Health and CPSA guidelines, making them legally valid and accepted across the province.
The Flip Side
However, the journey to integrated virtual care hasn't been without its challenges. The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) has expressed concerns regarding the compensation structure for virtual care, particularly in its earlier stages. In 2020, a physician was quoted highlighting frustrations over initial low compensation rates, making it difficult to sustain an office. The AMA also noted "uncertainty about compensation" among other challenges in their discussions with the government. While this mostly reflects past concerns, it underscores the need for a sustainable model that supports both patient access and physician livelihood.
The Bottom Line
With Calgary's walk-in clinic wait times soaring and our healthcare system under immense pressure, virtual care services like Your Doctors Online are more than just a convenience; they're a critical tool in managing the strain on our local infrastructure. For those battling the flu, unable to leave their home, or simply trying to navigate a system stretched thin, these regulated and often covered platforms offer a legitimate alternative to getting the care you need, when you need it.
