Alberta government touts nurse practitioner program as a success

Alberta's government says its attempt to provide more residents with primary care access is working. 

Launched in April, the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program allows nurse practitioners to see patients independently, either by working in existing primary care settings or operating their own practices. 

Of the 67 applications submitted to the program, 56 have been approved. 

As of Nov. 12, 33 NPs are now working in communities around the province, including locations like Cold Lake, Coaldale, Three Hills and Vegreville.

Nine of those applicants said they plan to work on First Nations or Métis settlements. 

"I'm truly thrilled about the response we've seen," health minister Adriana LaGrange said in a news conference Wednesday. 

"Other nurse practitioners who have been approved are setting up their practice and are expected to get started in the next few months."

In order to participate in the program, NPs have to maintain a patient panel of at least 900 people and accept walk-in appointments until they reach that number. They must also offer after-hours access on weekends, evenings or holidays and commit to providing a set number of hours of medically-necessary primary care services.

Once all 56 NPs are fully set up, the province said that primary health care access will expand to about 51,000 Albertans.

All NPs are regulated by the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta and must have completed graduate studies.

Jodi Cote, an NP who works at the Smyth Associate Clinic in Leduc, Alta., said that although her training is different than that of a family physician, she is still able to provide quality care for her patients. 

"We are different. We are trained differently. And this is what is so unique and wonderful about working as our team," she said at Wednesday's news conference. 

"My MD colleagues may have different perspectives and approaches to care from their lenses. And that is okay. Being different is a foundation of formulating discussions and consulting with professionals from all of the backgrounds."

She said the little amount of time she has spent in independent practice has shown her that people need help, as thousands of Albertans remain without a family doctor.