Using a “Team” approach to tackle Alberta’s health care challenges
“I hear one consistent message from Alberta families about health care: we need better access to care. We need to focus on building a health care system where access to health care professionals for families is appropriate, timely and effective.”
Alberta families want access to a strong, universal publicly-funded health care system. You want, you deserve, a dedicated health care team who understand your needs, knows your children, has access to your family’s medical history and can provide treatment options. You want to be able to see a health care team who knows your children and parents. Albertans need a practical, non-ideological approach that emphasizes access to care.
I’m proposing a health care professional “team” approach to health care that will give Albertans access to Family Care Clinics. These clinics will feature a comprehensive approach to treating illness and chronic disease by drawing on the most appropriate health practitioner and treatment options. I propose developing a framework where funding follows the patient, no matter what treatment is received. By changing our funding model and providing increased access to basic health care, we can provide access to Alberta families.
Alberta families want access to a strong, universal publicly-funded health care system. You want, you deserve, a dedicated health care team who understand your needs, knows your children, has access to your family’s medical history and can provide treatment options. You want to be able to see a health care team who knows your children and parents.
Roughly half of all provincial spending is on health care and that proportion increases every year. Yet the system is not working as it should. Our health care professionals are world class. Those who are able to access treatment can expect the best care. But many of us cannot access the care we need.
Too often, families are made to access basic health care in emergency rooms, either because that is their only option or they perceive it as their only option for receiving timely care. In fact, the latest Health Quality Council satisfaction survey indicated that 55% of emergency room visits were because the emergency room was the only choice available.
Too many Alberta families cannot find a family doctor. And those who have one face a long wait for appointments.
Albertans want accessible, timely and high quality care funded by government and they are willing to look at any approach, idea or structure that will deliver on that promise. They want to see solutions.
My solutions are focused on providing families with the best possible long-term and sustainable access – now and into the future – for our children and their children. I will address this by:
- 1. Establishing Family Care Clinics to dramatically increase access to primary health care for Alberta families.
- 2. Building a better continuing care system for Alberta seniors free of limitations so our seniors have increased choice and better health care outcomes.
- 3. Expanding home care to provide more less expensive and higher quality care in peoples homes.
- 4. Increasing local decision making powers by engaging community members and health care professionals in our health care system.
- 5. Building on our measurement system to ensure Albertans, regardless of where they live, receive the best possible care – every day.
Alberta has a great health care system. The vast majority of patients feel they receive outstanding care in their hour of greatest need. But what about before? We need to ensure Albertans get health care services before they become acute care problems. We need to focus on children, parents and seniors. We need change – and we need it soon.