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Preamble:
WHEREAS stable access to local healthcare services is essential to long-term viability, economic sustainability, and ability of residents to live and age in place within rural communities; and
WHEREAS longitudinal primary care in rural Alberta remains uneven due to ongoing healthcare workforce shortages, including challenges in recruiting and retaining family physicians; and
WHEREAS team-based interdisciplinary primary care teams, including nursing professionals and pharmacists, can provide consistent, high-quality care even with limited on-site physician availability, thereby reducing pressure on emergency departments and neighbouring healthcare facilities; and
WHEREAS the Bashaw Medical Clinic represents an innovative, community-owned and operated Patient Medical Home model that delivers primary care through an interdisciplinary team, reducing reliance on physicians as sole providers and improving access to care; and
WHEREAS this team-based approach has significantly increased patient attachment, expanded access to care, and improved continuity of care for over 1,500 rural residents, with continued growth expected; and
WHEREAS current funding for team-based primary care models rely on limited grants that are not sufficient to ensure long-term stability;
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate to the Government of Alberta (GOA) to establish long-term, sustainable provincial funding and support for community-owned, interdisciplinary, team-based primary care models in rural and remote communities;
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the GOA work collaboratively with rural municipalities and community partners to ensure equitable access to team-based primary care across rural Alberta.
Member Background:
Rural Alberta continues to face persistent gaps in access to primary healthcare, largely driven by ongoing shortages in family physicians and challenges related to recruitment and retention in smaller communities. As a result, many rural residents experience limited or inconsistent access to longitudinal care, increasing reliance on emergency departments and placing additional strain on the broader healthcare system.
In response to these challenges, the Bashaw & District Regional Health and Wellness Foundation, in partnership with local stakeholders, developed the Bashaw Medical Clinic; Alberta’s only community-owned and operated Patient Medical Home embedded within an Integrated Health Neighbourhood. This model leverages an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including nurses, an advanced practice pharmacist, and administrative support staff, to deliver comprehensive, team-based care.
Despite limited on-site physician availability, the clinic provides full-time primary care services and has more than doubled its patient panel to over 1,500 residents, with continued growth anticipated. This approach has improved patient attachment, enhanced continuity of care, and reduced pressure on emergency departments and neighbouring healthcare facilities.
The Bashaw model demonstrates that community-driven, team-based care can provide a sustainable and effective solution to rural healthcare access challenges. It also supports broader community outcomes, including enabling residents to remain in their homes, strengthening workforce retention, and contributing to the long-term sustainability of rural municipalities.
However, the long-term success of this model is currently at risk due to reliance on short-term grant funding, which is insufficient to maintain stable operations and support continued growth. Sustainable provincial investment is required to ensure continuity of care and to expand similar models across rural Alberta.
Lacombe County, alongside regional partners, supports increased provincial commitment towards interdisciplinary, team-based primary care and encourages the Government of Alberta to recognize and fund these innovative models as a core component of the provincial healthcare system.
RMA Background:
1-24F: Attraction and Retention Strategy for Rural Health Care Professionals
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate for the Government of Alberta to urgently prioritize a commitment to long-term sustainable funding to accelerate implementation of the Rural Health Action Plan 2024-2027 and the work of the Rural Health Professions Action Plan that focuses on increasing the total number of health care professionals in rural and remote Alberta.
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