The arrival of 2010 marked a new start for family physicians and patients in the Edson and Whitecourt areas of the province with the launch of the McLeod River Primary Care Network, Alberta’s 32nd Network.
“The Primary Care Network is an exciting development for us as family doctors in this area but more importantly it is good news for our patients as it will help us provide better access to primary health services and better coordinate care for them,” says Dr. Brian Willis, the Network’s physician lead in Edson and one of 25 physicians who are part of the McLeod River Primary Care Network which provides care to more than 22,000 patients in the Edson and Whitecourt areas.
Primary health is the first level of care that patients receive when they have a health concern, are ill or injured, traditionally provided by family doctors. However, that is slowly changing across Canada with the introduction and integration of other health professionals into the delivery of primary care. In Alberta that integration is in the form of Primary Care Networks which were introduced several years ago as part of primary care reform. The Networks bring together family doctors and other health professionals, such as nurses, dietitians and mental health experts, in an effort to improve access to primary health care while better coordinating care for patients. These teams also provide increased support to disease and injury prevention, as well as promoting healthier lifestyles.
“The goal at the end of the day is to improve the overall health of Albertans and reduce demands on the rest of the health system by keeping people healthier, better managing chronic illnesses and ensuring that patients receive the right care from the right health professional at the right time,” says Dr. Gerry Prince, a family physician from Medicine Hat who works in the Palliser Primary Care Network and is also a co-chair of the Primary Care Initiative Committee, the group that leads development of Networks across the province.
Dr. Willis agrees that this development presents new opportunities for residents in his region. He and his physician colleagues in the area, in collaboration with Alberta Health Services, have identified five priorities that they want to focus on: chronic disease management, obstetrical care, palliative care, geriatric care, and access to primary care. The priorities are based on local needs or common issues that family physicians were seeing in their practices.
“It’s about identifying local needs and then developing programs and services to better meet those needs,” says Dr. Willis. “We’re also hoping that the development of this multidisciplinary team approach to delivering primary care services can help us recruit and retain family doctors in this area so that we can better meet the needs of our patients.”
Currently there are three medical clinics involved with the Primary Care Network, they are: Edson Medical Clinic and Associate Medical Clinic and Life Medical Clinic, both in Whitecourt.
Primary Care Networks are created out of the Primary Care Initiative, a partnership between Alberta Health and Wellness, Alberta Medical Association and Alberta Health Services.