The government of Alberta has announced that nurses would soon be permitted to open their own independent clinics in a move the provincial government said would expand primary care access.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange made the announcement that independent practices would be able to open starting early next year.
This announcement came at a time when Albertans often go without routine medical care due to a shortage of family doctors.
While making the announcement, LaGrange said: “This is precisely why we are implementing a nurse practitioner compensation model and closing this funding gap so that we can add much-needed capacity to our primary health-care system and help more Albertans find a regular care provider.”
LaGrange said under the new model, Alberta Health will compensate nurse practitioners who want to practice independently. Unlike doctors, however, they won’t be paid per patient visit but will instead receive a set salary.
LaGrange said the province will provide the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta (NPAA) with a $2-million grant over three years to help with the compensation model and encourage nurse practitioners to open their own practices.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said nurses have been underutilized in the province despite having a wide skill set capable of providing primary care.
She said though many physicians practice in Alberta, not all of them are family doctors.
Officials expect the compensation model to commence in early 2024.
It will be implemented for a minimum of five years before it is re-evaluated to see if it will need improvements.
