Nurse practitioners have post-graduate education. (Pexels/Laura James)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

HEALTH CARE

Alberta allows nurse practitioners to open clinics, take on patients

Nov 22, 2023 | 9:42 AM

EDMONTON, AB – Nurse practitioners are now able to open their own clinics and take on patients as part of Alberta’s efforts to expand primary care.

These nurses have completed graduate studies and can provide about 80 per cent of the medical services a family physician provides.

Premier Danielle Smith said the changes will allow Albertans to have more access to care as the Alberta government announced the changes Wednesday.

“Nurse practitioners are highly trained and valued medical professionals,” Smith said during a news conference.

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“By enabling them to open their own clinics, we are ensuring Albertans can more easily access the care they need.”

Armed with a $2 million grant from the government, the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta will help to implement a compensation model, recruit other nurse practitioners and provide supports as the nurses set up clinics.

The move to enable nurses to open clinics brings Alberta in line with other provinces like Ontario, where nurse practitioner-led clinics have existed since 2007.

“There is no doubt about it, we need more health professionals providing primary health care to Albertans,” Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said.

“Nurse practitioners are skilled health care professionals who play vital roles in modern health care. This model has the potential to add capacity in communities across the province and help so many Albertans gain access to a regular primary care provider.”

The new compensation model will be phased in and is expected to launch in early 2024 when nurse practitioners who want to go into independent practice will be asked to submit expressions of interest.

The model is expected to include payment for a specified number of clinical hours and other commitments, such as caring for a certain number of patients.

Nurse practitioners who opt into the compensation model will also qualify for caseload supports once their patient caseloads are established, as announced on Oct. 18.

The three-year $57-million support program will help primary health care providers manage an increasing number of patients.

Each provider has the potential to receive up to $10,000 annually.

Meantime, Alberta Municipalities President Tyler Gandam expressed optimism while also tempering expectations.

“I am optimistic that Albertans will see the changes announced yesterday start showing up in their villages, towns, and cities in early 2024,” said Gandam. “Our members know all too well how the chronic shortage of family doctors and an over-stretched health care system are adversely affecting Albertans in communities of all sizes and locations.”

“We will lend whatever support we can to those who are striving to improve our province’s health care system. As the situation evolves and nurse practitioners begin opening clinics across Alberta, we will provide ongoing feedback to the provincial government, AHS and other key stakeholders about what is and isn’t working,” said Gandam.