Province investing millions to revamp Alberta's primary care structure
The Alberta government says it will be investing millions to improve access to family doctors for all Albertans and tackle many of the challenges facing the province's physicians.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange made the announcement in Calgary on Wednesday after releasing recommendations that came out of the government's Modernizing Alberta's Primary Health Care System (MAPS) initiative.
"The Modernizing Alberta's Primary Health Care System reports clearly identify the challenges our system is facing, and their release signals this government's commitment to take immediate and ongoing action to support and stabilize primary health care in our province," LaGrange said.
"This is only the beginning. We will keep our sleeves rolled up and work with our partners across the whole health-care system to build a medium and long-term plan."
Six of the 11 recommendations made by the report will be implemented immediately to improve primary health-care services.
Some of those recommendations include:
- Creating a primary health division in Alberta Health;
- Investing $57 million over three years to provide family doctors and nurse practitioners with support to boost the number of patients they can handle, with each provider able to access $10,000 per year;
- Establishing a task force of key partners from the Alberta Medical Association, College of Alberta Family Physicians and the Nurse Practitioners Association of Alberta with the goal of creating a new compensation model and reduce workloads;
- Expanding online mental health services;
- Ensuring doctors are paid even if their patients cannot provide proof of insurance coverage; and
- Introducing a payment system that would allow nurse practitioners to open their own clinics.
Another four of 22 recommendations will be actioned to strengthen Indigenous health-care services, officials said.
Those include:
- Creating an Indigenous health division within Alberta Health;
- Setting aside $20 million for Indigenous communities to develop and operate their own primary health care services and projects;
- Hiring an Indigenous patient complaints investigator to help address concerns First Nations members experience while accessing the health-care system; and
- Creating a community-based Indigenous patient navigator system.
"Our recommendation provide a clear and stable pathway to create a safe, culturally appropriate primary health-care system that include Indigenous Peoples as partners, and I believe the commitments made today are an important first step toward improving health equity for Indigenous Peoples, regardless of where they live," said Naa Taoyi Piita Wo Taan, Dr. Taylor White, CEO of Siksika Health Services and chair of MAPS' Indigenous panel.
Full details, including the final reports from MAPS are available online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
Helicopter carrying Iran's hard-line president apparently crashes in foggy, mountainous region
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
Canadian immigration asks medical worker fleeing Gaza if he treated Hamas fighters
Lawyers are questioning Canada’s approach to screening visa applications for people in Gaza with extended family in Canada after one applicant, a medical worker, was asked whether he had treated members of Hamas.
4 homes lost due to wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C.
A wildfire burning near Fort Nelson, B.C., completely destroyed four homes and damaged six more properties, according to an update from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
French security forces work to regain control of airport highway in violence-scorched New Caledonia
Using armoured vehicles and backhoes to shove aside charred barricades, French security forces worked Sunday to retake control of the highway to the international airport in violence-scorched New Caledonia, shuttered because of deadly unrest wracking the French Pacific archipelago where indigenous people have long sought independence from France.
Diddy admits beating ex-girlfriend Cassie, says he's sorry, calls his actions 'inexcusable'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs admitted Sunday that he beat his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 'truly sorry' and his actions were 'inexcusable.'