Source URL: rmalberta.com/news/government-of-alberta-launches-rural-health-action-plan/

Government of Alberta Launches Rural Health Action Plan

The Rural Health Action Plan is intended to help guide actions, address challenges, and improve outcomes in rural and remote health care

The Government of Alberta has launched the Rural Health Action Plan, which is intended to address the unique healthcare challenges that are present in rural and remote communities. The action plan includes five focus areas and will be reviewed every three years. The focus areas of the action plan include:

  • Workforce: Create a healthy, sustainable, engaged and efficient health workforce in rural and remote Alberta.
  • Access: Deliver high-quality and appropriate health care services when and where Albertans need it. 
  • Models of Care: Create unique care models and solutions that serve the needs in rural and remote communities.
  • Community Care: Establish community-specific supports to promote the physical and mental well-being of rural and remote Albertans.
  • Prevention and Wellness: Support rural initiatives to reduce risk factors and encourage protective measures to reduce strain on the health system.

As some of the first steps being taken under the action plan, the Government of Alberta is introducing a $16 million Rural and Remote Family Medicine Resident Physician Bursary Pilot Program, an $800,000 Medical First Responder (MFR) Grant program, and a $600,000 Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Education Grant program.

The RMA is encouraged by the Government of Alberta’s efforts to apply a rural lens to healthcare service delivery, and is hopeful that these efforts will improve the funding, structure, and delivery of healthcare across rural Alberta.

Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
825.319.2245
kallie@RMAlberta.com

Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com