Nurse practitioner announcement leaves family physicians feeling 'devalued,' 'disrespected'
CBC
A heated debate is brewing in Alberta and it has implications for the future of primary care in the province.
This week, the provincial government announced nurse practitioners will be allowed to set up their own publicly funded independent practices as early as January.
During Wednesday's news conference, Premier Danielle Smith touted the plan as a "key part" of the solution to a shortage of family physicians that has left an estimated 600,000 — or more — Albertans without care.
"Help is on the way," she said.
"We will stop at nothing to ensure that Albertans have access to the care they need, when and where they need it."
Nurse practitioners (NPs), who are registered nurses with extra training, are allowed to order tests, prescribe medication, manage chronic diseases and make referrals to specialists.
A compensation model is in the works that will allow NPs to be paid directly by the province, which isn't currently possible.
The government also promised a $2 million grant over three years to help with set-up and recruitment.
Another $57 million, announced in October, means NPs and family doctors will each be eligible for up to $10,000 annually to help support growing patient caseloads.
Reaction to the latest announcement has been strong and swift.
"It's a false equivalency to think that a nurse practitioner is a family physician," said Dr. Sarah Bates, the acting president of the family medicine section with the Alberta Medical Association.
According to Bates the messaging leaves family physicians feeling devalued, overlooked and disrespected.
"It's injurious to family medicine to see investments into nurse practitioner clinics while family medicine is gasping."
The relationship between family doctors and the provincial government has been fraught for years, sparked in large part by former health minister Tyler Shandro's decision to rip up their master agreement early in 2020.
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