In 2003, Alberta Health (formerly Alberta Health and Wellness), the Alberta Medical Association and Alberta’s Regional Health Authorities (now Alberta Health Services) established the Primary Care Initiative (PCI) to improve access to family physicians and other frontline health care providers in Alberta. The purpose of the PCI is to develop Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and support them in meeting the objectives of the program. In the 2003 PCI Master Agreement, the three health partners set the following objectives: Increase the proportion of residents with ready access to primary care Provide coordinated 24-hour, 7-day-per-week management of access to appropriate primary care services Increase the emphasis on health promotion, disease and injury prevention, care of the medically complex patient and are of patients with chronic diseases Improve coordination and integration with other health care services including secondary, tertiary and long-term care through specialty care linkages to primary care Facilitate the greater use of multi-disciplinary teams to provide comprehensive primary care The PCI agreement has been an outstanding success. There are 40 PCNs operating throughout Alberta with more in development. More than 2500 family physicians in Alberta are working in PCNs. In a Primary Care Network (PCN), a group of family doctors and the local health region coordinate health services for patients. A PCN can be comprised of one clinic with many physicians and support staff, or several physicians in several clinics across a health region. Each network has the flexibility to develop programs and to provide services in a way that works locally to meet the specific needs of patients. For example, depending on the need, a PCN might decide to strengthen the communication between the physicians and home care nurses by working together in a new way. Or, another network may set up a palliative care program with a team of family doctors and health care professionals to look after patients. Each network determines how to best meet the needs of patients in the area while working within the provincial PCI framework. In PCNs, other health care professionals work closely with family doctors to enhance primary health services for patients. PCNs in Alberta
In the 2003 PCI Master Agreement, the three health partners set the following objectives:
The PCI agreement has been an outstanding success. There are 40 PCNs operating throughout Alberta with more in development. More than 2500 family physicians in Alberta are working in PCNs. In a Primary Care Network (PCN), a group of family doctors and the local health region coordinate health services for patients. A PCN can be comprised of one clinic with many physicians and support staff, or several physicians in several clinics across a health region. Each network has the flexibility to develop programs and to provide services in a way that works locally to meet the specific needs of patients. For example, depending on the need, a PCN might decide to strengthen the communication between the physicians and home care nurses by working together in a new way. Or, another network may set up a palliative care program with a team of family doctors and health care professionals to look after patients. Each network determines how to best meet the needs of patients in the area while working within the provincial PCI framework. In PCNs, other health care professionals work closely with family doctors to enhance primary health services for patients. PCNs in Alberta
A PCN can be comprised of one clinic with many physicians and support staff, or several physicians in several clinics across a health region. Each network has the flexibility to develop programs and to provide services in a way that works locally to meet the specific needs of patients.
For example, depending on the need, a PCN might decide to strengthen the communication between the physicians and home care nurses by working together in a new way. Or, another network may set up a palliative care program with a team of family doctors and health care professionals to look after patients.
Each network determines how to best meet the needs of patients in the area while working within the provincial PCI framework. In PCNs, other health care professionals work closely with family doctors to enhance primary health services for patients.
PCNs in Alberta