This month’s Innovation feature took home second place for both the Judges’ and People’s Choice Awards at the Family Medicine Innovation Forum. Read up on their innovation below and catch up with them during the Innovation Showcase at the 2026 Family Medicine Summit.
Innovators:
The Bashaw Medical Clinic exemplifies the Integrated Health Neighbourhood model. With two and half days per week of physician appointments, our advanced scope of practice interdisciplinary team extends five-day-per-week care to a current panel of 1,500 patients, with plans to expand to 2,500–3,000. Physicians are fully supported through operational infrastructure and integration with social services.
Innovation Pitch:
We are transforming primary care by uniting physicians, an advanced-scope interdisciplinary care team and community-led social services supports to extend care to more Albertans.
Problem Being Addressed:
Associated rural municipalities were facing the retirement of the last part time family physician in the geographic area and the closure of medical services in the town of Bashaw. The area had a large number of unattached patients, patients seeking services through several local emergency departments or travelling long distances for care.
How It Works:
Bashaw and District Support Services (BDSS) is an organization who had worked to organize social sector services and supports for the area. Sylvan Family Health Centre partnered with the organization to create a community-led interdisciplinary team clinic in Bashaw, leveraging existing AHS medical clinic space, community resources and community fundraising efforts, Alberta Health Team and municipal grants, and physician services and supports from the Sylvan Family Health Centre. Bashaw has an on-site team consisting of a primary care pharmacist, two registered nurses, one licensed practical nurse, two medical office assistants and a receptionist. They are supported by Sylvan physicians who provide real-time virtual support, support team decision- making and provide on-site services two to three days per week. To date, close to 1,500 patients are now paneled to the clinic. Sylvan Family Health Centre is providing support and capacity building for Bashaw and District Support Services to learn to self-operate the clinic site and currently decisions are made collaboratively by a small leadership team. The panel is open geographically to the postal codes of the partnering municipalities.
What Kind of Support Are you Looking For:
This innovation was meant to highlight a viable hub and spoke model to support rural sites in Alberta. It is made possible by the local on-site team in Bashaw. This is currently funded through Sylvan Family Health Centre, Bashaw, and District Support Services and has grant funding for two years. This proof of concept is meant to highlight how rural sites can provide local primary care supports if empowered and resourced to build local teams and connections to provider groups. Sustainability of human resources/financial support is of keen interest for the group.
To learn more about the Family Medicine Innovation Forum, please read our program guide or visit our webpage.
