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Dear ACFP Members:
The ACFP has been persistent in our partnership and advocacy efforts to make things better for family physicians and primary care in Alberta. Our strategic priority is to ensure that Alberta has a fully integrated health system with family medicine as the foundation.
Supporting Comprehensive Care Task Force
As a member of the Task Force, the ACFP has been working with the Alberta Medical Association, Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta, and Alberta Health on decreasing administrative burden in primary care, transitional funding, and the new physician comprehensive care model (PCCM). This Task Force has been meeting regularly to advance recommendations and, between meetings, much work is being done to gather and summarize evidence, engage in ongoing dialogue with Ministry staff, and continue to push for action on the recommendations that have been put forward. Though progress is being made, there is more to be done to advance the recommendations for decreasing administrative burden and to support the work to finalize the PCCM.
Our collective voice is also vital to ensure that the changes Alberta Health is making to refocus the health care system are beneficial and do not limit or debilitate family medicine and our members.
The Coalition for Primary Health Care
As informed by our ACFP Strategic Framework, we have been focused on advancing team-based primary care as one of the recommendations for improving access for Albertans and building a sustainable primary care workforce. Family physicians want to work within an optimized primary health care teams and health neighbourhoods. You are the leaders in the transformation of the health system, and you understand the value of collaboration and teamwork.
The ACFP believes that it will take applied leadership and collaborative partnerships to advance family medicine and the health care system. To that end, we have been a driver in the establishment of the Coalition for Primary Health Care in Alberta (CPHC)—the only coalition of its kind in Canada!
The CPHC has been meeting, building momentum and strong working relationships over the last year, and is proudly embarking on some critical initiatives in the coming months:
- The CPHC brings primary care providers and partners together to build trust, collaboration, common vision, and goals so that we can collectively advocate for all people living in Alberta to experience seamless access to comprehensive team-based primary health care.
- The ACFP is planning a forum to advance primary care in Alberta in collaboration with the CPHC. Team Primary Care Alberta is scheduled on October 5 in Calgary and will build upon the success of the federally funded Team Primary Care Project that supported 45 projects across Canada through 2023-24. We will engage and envision what is possible and what is needed to support the building and optimization of primary care teams in Alberta. The Forum will host up to 200 interdisciplinary leaders and partners in primary care to learn and collaborate with each other.
- The CPHC supports collaborative discussions with primary care providers and partners and Alberta Health regarding the implementation of the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System (MAPS) with a common vision for patient-centred team-based care.
Through political and health leadership changes, the CPHC will remain connected as a consultative table for decision makers and stakeholders who are working to improve the health care system.
Our Commitment to You
The next few years will be critical for our partnership and advocacy efforts as so much is changing in Alberta’s health care system. The ACFP will not stand on the sidelines and wait for change to happen. We commit to being a strong voice as we represent family physicians and emphasize the value of family medicine and primary health care. The ACFP continues to advocate that every Albertan has the right to access to a family physician and a primary care team, and to achieve this, family physicians must be valued and supported by the health care system.
You can reach out any time to Terri.Potter@acfp.ca or ACFPPRES@acfp.ca with your feedback or questions or call the ACFP office at 780-488-2395.
In your service,
Terri Potter
Executive Director, ACFP
One Response
I would love to go to the Oct.5 conference in Calgary, if there is any room for unaffiliated family docs.