Rural Emergency Enhancement Fund

The Rural Emergency Enhancement Fund (REEF) provides funding for eligible rural emergency departments to support physicians who collaboratively plan for and provide public access to emergency department services on a regularly scheduled basis.

Purpose and Principles

This program is intended to encourage the provision of reliable emergency department services during the  hours established by the Health Authority in designated emergency departments in rural British Columbia.

The program is intended to recognize and support the breadth and comprehensive nature of general practice in rural British Columbia communities where physicians typically provide hospital services in conjunction with providing full scope, family practice services in their community office practices.

Program Objectives

1. To strengthen stability of public access to hospital and HA designated EDs in rural communities by effectively and efficiently integrating ED services with the HAs’ health care service delivery plans for the community and the region.
2. To increase ED capacity by increasing the number of health care service providers who support the hospital or HA designated ED, if and where possible.
3. To encourage physician groups to enhance ED access and ensure a comprehensive range of health care services while not destabilizing other important services or surrounding communities.
4. To ensure clear accountability for the annual provision of continuous access to the ED, as per the regularly scheduled, posted hours.
5. To appropriately tailor models of reliable ED service delivery to individual community circumstances.
6. To help retain and encourage the recruitment of physicians to live and work in rural communities.

• Rural Emergency Enhancement Fund (REEF) Policy (PDF, 276KB). 
• Rural Emergency Enhancement Fund (REEF) Program Process Document (PDF, 72KB)