The Alberta government has invested an additional $9 million in rural primary care, including almost $8 million through the Rural Team Recruitment Grant to help rural clinics grow their care teams.
Through the latest grant intake, $3.4 million was awarded to 23 clinics across Alberta, supporting 53 new full-time health care positions in rural and remote communities across the province.
“These grants are about making sure rural Albertans can get the care they need in their own communities,” said Justin Wright, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services.
“By helping clinics hire more health professionals and grow their teams, we’re making it easier for families to get timely, reliable care closer to home.”
In a press release the Alberta government said the Barrhead Family Clinic, which received funding through a previous round of the Rural Team Recruitment Grant, increased the number of patients served by almost 30 per cent after recruiting patient care coordinators.
They added the Crowsnest Medical Clinic, another previous grant recipient, reported that the social worker hired through this grant has served 98 patients with advocacy care coordination and connections to community resources that improve their care.
An additional $1 million has been awarded to seven municipalities through the Municipality Supported Clinics Grant program to strengthen local care clinics.
The funding is supporting new staff, including medical office assistants, managers, navigators and virtual clinic coordinators, as well as medical equipment, staff training and technology.
Funding was provided to the towns of Picture Butte, Bruderheim and Bow Island, as well as to clinics in Lac La Biche County, Bashaw, Delburne and Consort, helping strengthen access to primary care in these communities.
The funding has helped Bruderheim extended clinic hours, Bashaw expand from two to five clinic days a week and achieve same-day appointments, and Consort serve 36 per cent more patients.
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