(Image generated using AI)

New funding is helping rural clinics expand their teams and provide more care closer to home.

Rural communities across Alberta are seeing additional support for primary health care as new provincial funding helps clinics recruit staff, expand services and improve access for patients.

The Alberta government says an additional $9 million has been invested in rural primary care, including nearly $8 million through the Rural Team Recruitment Grant.

In the latest intake, $3.4 million was awarded to 23 clinics across Alberta, supporting 53 new full-time health-care positions in rural and remote communities.

The investment is intended to help rural clinics build stronger, team-based care models so patients can access a wider range of services closer to where they live.

“These grants are about making sure rural Albertans can get the care they need in their own communities,” said Justin Wright, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services. “By helping clinics hire more health professionals and grow their teams, we’re making it easier for families to get timely, reliable care closer to home.”

Results Already Being Seen

The province says previous recipients of the Rural Team Recruitment Grant are already reporting improvements in their ability to serve patients.

The Barrhead Family Clinic, which received funding through an earlier round of the program, increased the number of patients it serves by almost 30 per cent after recruiting patient care coordinators.

The Crowsnest Medical Clinic also reported positive results. A social worker hired through the grant has served 98 patients by providing advocacy, care coordination and connections to community resources.

Other rural clinics are using the funding to increase their capacity and strengthen the services available locally.

At the Consort Medical Clinic, funding has helped build capacity within the clinic's primary-care team.

“These grants have helped us build much-needed capacity within the Consort Medical Clinic, strengthening our primary care team and expanding the care we can provide locally,” said Kayla Donohue, clinic manager. “This investment is helping create more sustainable access to primary care for our rural community.”

Municipalities Also Receiving Support

An additional $1 million has been awarded to seven municipalities through the Municipality Supported Clinics Grant program.

The funding is supporting new employees, including medical office assistants, managers, patient navigators and virtual clinic coordinators. It is also being used for medical equipment, staff training and technology.

Funding is going to the towns of Picture Butte, Bruderheim and Bow Island, along with clinics in Lac La Biche County, Bashaw, Delburne and Consort.

The province says the investments are already making a difference.

In Bruderheim, funding has helped extend clinic hours. Bashaw has expanded from two to five clinic days per week and is now offering same-day appointments. In Consort, the clinic has been able to serve 36 per cent more patients.

“Communities across Alberta are benefiting from these investments as clinics bring on additional team members and enhance the high-quality, team-based care that rural families rely on,” said Ron Wiebe, parliamentary secretary for Rural Health.

A Continued Focus on Rural Access

The Rural Team Recruitment Grant program's second intake was added following a strong response to the first intake in 2024.

Through the program, the Alberta government says it is helping fill 105 new health-care positions, giving rural clinics the ability to expand their teams and improve patient access.

Both the Rural Team Recruitment Grant and the Municipality Supported Clinics Grant programs stem from the Rural Health Action Plan and the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System (MAPS) report.

Funding is being provided through the Canada-Alberta Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians, including initiatives focused on rural and remote communities.

For rural Alberta, the goal is straightforward: strengthen local clinics, expand the teams serving patients and make it easier for people to receive the care they need without having to leave their communities.

For more information about the Rural Health Action Plan, visit the Government of Alberta website at www.alberta.ca/rural-health-action-plan.

(Source: Government of Alberta)