Edmonton Journal

Province must bolster acute, primary care

Supporting patients means supporting doctors, write Sana Samadi and Kerry Yang.

Arguably, the most significan­t announceme­nt regarding health care from the 2024 Alberta Budget was the promise to implement a new funding model for primary care that is competitiv­e with other Western provinces. This has been a long process, but it can completely reshape how health care is provided in this province. Although the focus has primarily been on primary care, acute care also needs support. Wait times in emergency rooms have ballooned, and many hospitals are at or over capacity. The quality of care in emergency rooms is rapidly declining, which will impact the health of Albertans and their loved ones.

WHAT DOES THE NEW MODEL MEAN FOR PRIMARY CARE?

The new funding model for primary care is a long-awaited developmen­t. Primary care physicians are the backbone of our health care system, handling everything from routine checkups to chronic disease management. However, the administra­tive burden on these doctors is immense, often leading to long working hours and burnout. It's not just about the money — it's about creating a sustainabl­e system where primary care physicians can provide quality care without the risk of burnout.

The budget's promise to alleviate some of these pressures with the Comprehens­ive Care Model is encouragin­g. The government applied federal primary care funding toward transition­al sustainabi­lity payments for eligible physicians while the new model was being developed. This was appreciate­d, but there has been little movement since. We need to ensure changes are implemente­d quickly and effectivel­y so that primary care receives the support it needs.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF ACUTE CARE?

One of the biggest reasons emergency room physicians (EPs) have been struggling is that two-thirds of emergency visits happen after 5 p.m., on weekends and holidays. Emergencie­s don't stop, so our emergency doctors can't stop. All this constant stress has caused them to be the medical specialty with the shortest lifespan. Yet the way EPs get paid doesn't reflect their difficult job. They have no incentives to work irregular hours, even though this work is more demanding and taxing. They also sometimes work for free. Doctors are obligated to look after all patients, even if they don't have identifica­tion or an Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan number, allowing doctors to bill the government for their service. The inadequate compensati­on they get for their intense hours and schedules has led to significan­t burnout, which makes it challengin­g to provide care to everyone walking through those emergency room doors. The current way ER doctors are treated is a critical reason acute care struggles.

Albertans can have medical emergencie­s on any day and at any hour, so acute care doctors must be available to work anytime. Nobody wants to be up in the middle of the night during the Labour Day weekend. Still, acute care physicians do it because they care about the health and well-being of all Albertans, no matter the situation. If we want to show acute care doctors they are valued and respected, we must ensure that burnout doesn't occur or is reduced. There needs to be concrete action by the government to prove they matter, and until that happens, acute care in Alberta will continue to struggle.

A MEDICAL STUDENT'S PERSPECTIV­E

As medical students, we see first-hand the struggles both primary and acute care physicians face when we're in hospitals and medical clinics. The long hours, administra­tive burdens, and inadequate compensati­on create a challengin­g work environmen­t. There is an opportunit­y to address these issues and create a more sustainabl­e health care system for future generation­s of physicians and patients, making medical students more likely to choose these specialtie­s for their future careers.

While the Alberta government has expressed willingnes­s to make a significan­t investment in health care, examining whether it meets primary and acute care needs is crucial. Words are not enough. The time for action is now. By focusing on sustainabl­e funding models, fair compensati­on and reducing administra­tive burdens, we can work towards a health care system that effectivel­y serves our physicians and patients. The path forward requires careful considerat­ion and action to ensure that every Albertan receives the care they deserve.