Virtual Health Care for Islanders without a Primary Care Provider 

If you do not have a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner), a physician may be able to treat you online through Maple, a secure healthcare platform. 

You will need to use your computer, smartphone, or tablet to access virtual care. 

This page explains the eligibility requirements to receive virtual health care through Maple.

Who is eligible for this service?

You are eligible for this service if: 

1. You have never had a primary care provider on PEI, OR
2. You had a primary care provider who closed their practice and do not currently have another primary care provider.

I’ve never had a family doctor on PEI. How do I get access to this service?

To be eligible for this service, you must first sign up for the Provincial Patient Registry (a wait list for a family doctor or nurse practitioner). 

After signing up for the Provincial Patient Registry, Health PEI will send you a letter or email confirming your name has been added to the registry and send your information to Maple to be entered into its system. 

Once you are entered into Maple’s system, you will receive a separate email from healthpeimaple@ihis.org inviting you to register for Maple for Islanders with a primary care provider. Once you receive this email, follow these steps to sign up with Maple.

Please note: This entire process may take up to three weeks from the time you sign up for the Provincial Patient Registry. 

My family doctor closed their practice. How do I get access to this service?

If your former family doctor is listed on the Information for patients of closed and temporarily closed practices web page:

• Your Health Card number has been added to the Health PEI Maple virtual care service roster. You can register with Maple before you join the Provincial Patient Registry. You will not receive an invitation to sign up with Maple.  

If your former doctor is not listed on the Find Health Care web page: 

• You must sign up for the Provincial Patient Registry first. After you do this, you will receive an email from healthpeimaple@ihis.org inviting you to register for Maple for Islanders without a primary care provider. This process may take up to three weeks.

Note: All patients of primary care providers who have closed their practice must sign up for the Provincial Patient Registry if they would like a new family doctor or nurse practitioner. 

Will registering for this service affect my position in the Provincial Patient Registry?

No. Registering for this service will not affect your position in the Provincial Patient Registry. 

If I get a new family doctor, can I still use this service? 

No. When the Patient Registry assigns you to a primary care provider, you will no longer be eligible for this service. Your Maple account will switch from the PEI Unaffiliated Virtual Care Program to the paid Maple version (meaning you will need to pay Maple for any subsequent services). 

You will receive a notification from Health PEI to inform you of this. 

What if I need more help?

See the Virtual Health Care for Islanders without a Primary Care Provider FAQ and/or

Contact the Virtual Care Technical Support Desk:
Phone: 1-855-506-3963 (toll-free)
Email: virtualcare@ihis.org

For in-person assistance registering for virtual care, please visit an Access PEI location (bring your PEI Health Card).