BOW VALLEY – The Bow Valley Primary Care Network will soon see a nurse practitioner added to their staff after the Alberta government approved $3 million in new funding across the province on Tuesday (Sept. 17).
According to a press release, the local health network will be one of five locations across the province that will see a nurse practitioner added to its staff.
According to the release, up to 30 nurse practitioners are to be hired through the new funding and they will work with Primary Care Networks, medical clinics and patients in communities where there may be difficulty accessing a family doctor.
“We’re delivering on our campaign commitment to add more nurse practitioners, to give people in under-served communities more access to primary care and other health services," Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said in the release. "Nurse practitioners are valuable, skilled health-care professionals, and we look forward to working with them to strengthen our publicly funded health system.”
Nurse practitioners can diagnose patients, provide annual checkups, order tests and prescribe medications. Their role includes working with people from under-served populations – to increase access to care for Indigenous people, adolescents with mental health needs and people with chronic conditions like diabetes, according to the release. Some will also be available on weekends and evenings, when medical clinics are usually closed.
Medical director at the Bow Valley Primary Care Network (Bow Valley PCN) Dino Smiljic said the facility recently received confirmation its application for nurse practitioner funding had been accepted.
"The PCN Joint Governance Committee has had preliminary discussions regarding operational details, and after engaging with our stakeholders, endeavours to begin the hiring process," he wrote in an email.
"We look forward to, and value, the addition of nurse practitioner services to the Bow Valley."
Yvette Penman, Bow Valley PCN executive director, added the new roles will be advertised on its website once the logistics are sorted out.
"We are tentatively approved for one position," said Penman.
David Shepherd, the NDP's official opposition critic issued a statement Tuesday afternoon endorsing the UCP government’s investment into increasing nurse practitioners.
“Any day that the government announces funding for more nurse practitioners is a good day for Albertans," Shepherd said. "Nurse practitioners are highly trained health-care providers who deliver exceptional care to patients, which is why our government expanded their scope of practice last year.
“However, today’s promise of more nurse practitioners is just a drop in the bucket compared this government’s panel recommendations for deep cuts to health care funding and Americanization of services. Nurse Practitioners are a great addition to our health care system, but the UCP is going to make it harder for them to deliver care by making a 20 per cent cut.”
The Bow Valley Primary Care Network is a local facility that provides free primary health care programs and services for residents in the valley. According to its website, its vision is to elevate “health and well-being in our valley.” It’s mission states it strives to provide “optimal primary care delivery through strong, innovative partnerships and community engagements.”
"[We] welcome the opportunity to increase access to primary care for our patient population," said Smiljic.
There are 600 nurse practitioners registered in Alberta currently and about 50 work in the 41 Primary Care Networks across the province.
