The people who run our health care system say they are making a significant effort to reduce the amount of downtime at emergency rooms, particularly in central Newfoundland.

NL Health Services says emergency department closures in the region have decreased by 97 per cent from last January to this December.

Craig Davis, vice-president and chief operating officer for the central zone, says virtual ERs have been extremely successful in maintaining services for rural sites.

NL Health says that a virtual ER operates in many ways the same way as a traditional emergency room. Patients are assessed and treated by staff on site, and a virtual physician or nurse practitioner works closely with the onsite team to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan through a video connection.