Dozens of nurse practitioners now practicing primary care in rural Alberta, with more on the way: province

More than 30 nurse practitioners have started to provide primary health care across Alberta, easing the demand for family physicians, the province says.

Since the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program was launched in April, 56 of 67 applications by nurse practitioners (NPs) to practice either independently or at an existing clinic have been approved. Thirty-three NPs have already begun taking on patients in 18 different communities, including Alberta's largest cities.

Providing an update on the program on Wednesday, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said she was "thrilled" with the level of interest.

As applicants are required to commit to overseeing a minimum of 900 patients, this number of independently working nurse practitioners means 30,000 more Albertans have access to primary health care, the province says. The province expects 21,000 more Albertans will be given access when the remaining applications come online.

"We know when we look at the number of people that come through our emergency rooms that a good number of them – and I've seen statistics that are upwards of 70 per cent – could actually be handled by their primary care provider if they could get in to a provider, or if the hours were available for them to get in to a provider," LaGrange told reporters during a news conference in Leduc.

"So we need to make sure that there's easy access so that it will actually save dollars at the emergency room and other areas of acute care."

The Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program was announced in late 2023 as a way to strengthen Alberta's primary-care system. Alberta considers it unique in Canada.

Participating NPs can diagnose, order and interpret test results, prescribe medication and refer patients to specialists.

Jodi Cote, a nurse practitioner who is working under the program, said that although her practice at Leduc's Smyth Associate Clinic is technically considered independent, she does not work alone in reality.

"Do I need a physician to oversee my practice? No. Do I like having a team of physicians down the hallway? Absolutely. Their knowledge and experience is invaluable to me," Cote said, taking the podium after LaGrange.

The Smyth Associate Clinic is looking for another nurse practitioner who wants to practice independently, according to co-owner Dr. David Smyth, who says it lost five family physicians in the last two years, mostly to hospital emergency departments.

To be eligible, nurse practitioners must also commit to providing a set number of hours of service, including during weekends, evenings and holidays.

The Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta says it has worked with the government since the spring to launch the program and support nurses in their applications.

According to the association, many of the program's applicants have come from acute care or private settings, where, historically, there have been the most employment opportunities.

Nurse practitioners who are a part of the program will earn about 80 per cent of a family doctor's salary.

CTV News Edmonton has reached out to the Alberta Medical Association for comment.