Nurse practitioners seen as 'short-term solution' to Sask. family doctor shortage
As about 200,000 people in Saskatchewan are without a family doctor, nurse practitioners (NPs) could be the short-term solution.
NPs are registered nurses with advanced training. They can examine and diagnose patients, perform procedures, develop treatment plans, and prescribe medications.
"People will argue about this, but at a minimum, they can do 80 per cent of what physicians can do," adjunct professor of health policy at Simon Fraser University Steven Lewis told CTV News.
On Tuesday, the provincial government announced plans to hire 25 new NPs and fund the province's first nurse practitioner-led clinic, as a pilot project.
Lewis says this announcement could have gone further, but will get people who need primary care "through the door."
"Nurse practitioners practicing more or less by themselves are certainly a short-term solution to get those thousands of people who don't have a regular source of primary care, a medical home," Lewis said.
Retired physician Dennis Kendel said nurse practitioners cannot be doctors' replacement.
"If we can get more nurse practitioners practicing in the system, it will improve access to primary care. I think we have to be careful though that we're not seeing that as a substitute for family doctors because you can't just swap a nurse practitioner for a family doctor," Kendel said, adding that Saskatchewan shouldn't lose its focus on recruiting and retaining doctors.
Both Kendel and Lewis agree the real, long-term solution is medical teams — where nurses, doctors, pharmacists and specialists work together to provide streamlined care.
"They work together. They share the same record. They communicate with each other. As opposed to having all these practitioners in silos, and then the patient's care becomes very fragmented," Kendel told CTV News.
There are about nine privately-owned nurse practitioner clinics in Saskatchewan.
Lisa Clark-Musschoot's runs private medical clinics in Regina and Saskatoon called Nero's House.
"I see a lot of patients who can't get in to see their family doctor. I see orphan patients, patients who have no family doctor," Clark-Musschoot said.
Patients pay out of pocket at Nero's House and can submit the cost through insurance.
The new provincially-funded clinic, set to open in Martensville in April, won't have a fee to patients.
Michelle O'Keefe, president-elect for the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners, said the clinic will look similar to medical clinics run by physicians.
"Right now if a patient is seeing a nurse practitioner in the private setting, then they have to pay a fee out of pocket. So this should be removing that barrier ... because the NP is being paid through alternative funding," O'Keefe said.
Saskatchewan's Health Minister Everett Hindley said details about the new clinic's cost will be revealed in the provincial budget next week.
"What we're trying to do is make sure that we provide more opportunities for people to be able to access their health care — maybe it's a family doctor, maybe it's a nurse practitioner," Hindley said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
Panama prepares to evacuate first island in face of rising sea level
On a tiny island off Panama's Caribbean coast, about 300 families are packing their belongings in preparation for a dramatic change. Generations of Gunas who have grown up on Gardi Sugdub in a life dedicated to the sea and tourism will trade that next week for the mainland’s solid ground.
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
Trump election victory 'very unlikely,' but 'possible': former FBI director Comey
Former FBI director James Comey says while he believes former U.S. president Donald Trump "will be defeated" in the upcoming presidential election, he doesn’t think it’s a given.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Two celestial shows will be visible across Canada this week
Canada is getting not one – but two – celestial shows over the next few days. Keep an eye on the sky for the northern lights and parade of planets!
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
WestJet ordered to pay B.C. traveller $1,300 for a missed flight connection
A B.C. traveller will receive more than $1,300 in compensation from WestJet for a missed flight connection following a decision from the province's small claims tribunal.
Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour: 'I am completely heartsick and devastated'
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.