The Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta (NPAA) is supporting the opening of nurse practitioner practices across Alberta under the new NP Primary Care Program which was announced in April 2024. This is a result of the NPAA advocating for over a decade for a direct reimbursement contract with Alberta Health to allow nurse practitioners to operate their own clinics within the public system.
Under the new model, nurse practitioners will be able to offer full scope primary care services to over 700 000 Albertans unable to find access to primary care services.
Nurse practitioners are highly educated healthcare professionals who are qualified to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions; from minor ailments to complex illnesses. With foundational training in nursing, NPs leverage & provide a patient centered approach while combining their Masters level education in providing healthcare services which allows them to effectively meet the diverse and complex needs of patients. This level of training enables NPs to practice independently with full autonomy to make healthcare decisions in collaboration with their patients and healthcare teams.
Nurse practitioners also function within the acute care and community care settings as a part of patient care teams. You may find them on the hospital wards, emergency departments, intensive care units, ambulatory care clinics across multiple specialties across the healthcare landscape.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
This means patients looking for care can seek out Nurse Practitioners either within family practices of interdisciplinary teams including MDs, or in independently NP owned clinics.
You will find their clinics advertised through Alberta Find a Doctor website. (albertafindadoctor.ca)
What exactly is a Nurse Practitioner?
In Alberta, Nurse Practitioners are master’s or doctorally prepared health professionals (former registered nurses) who provide essential healthcare services such as primary care, outpatient clinic-based care, or hospital care. Nurse practitioners are completely independent health professionals and require no outside supervision of their practice. They bring a wealth of knowledge to provide high-quality care in a variety of settings.
What do Nurse Practitioners do and what services do they provide to the public?
Nurse practitioners provide fulsome patient care to clients and are responsible for their own practice. They assess, diagnose, treat and manage medical presentations. They educate and counsel clients about health findings and diagnoses, organize further required testing and referrals to other healthcare professionals including specialist physicians, and manage follow-up.
Nurse practitioners practice uniquely by viewing the health of the whole person, with emphasis on education, communication, and disease prevention. Nurse practitioners work in collaboration with their clients and other health-care practitioners to provide patient-centred care. They are able to work with clients across the age ranges and across multiple specialty disciplines within healthcare, throughout the province.
Nurse Practitioners can increase access to primary care
Currently, one in four Albertans do not have access to primary care. They rely on episodic care from walk-in clinics, urgent care and emergency departments. Primary Care Providers (PCP) (family physicians and nurse practitioners) quarterback primary care by offering consistent access to care, which improves continuity through a patient-provider long term relationship, all while being more cost effective than a non-office-based visit. The quality and cost-effectiveness of nurse practitioners has been well established (Bauer, 2010).
Nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to help fill the needs of Albertans by providing the “timely and geographically feasible access to adequate health care services” ensured by the Canada Health Act (Health Canada, 2010).