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Doctor pay deal announcement brings some relief to Ponoka physicians

Local doctor says the new pay model is 'reassuring' the province is trying to improve the situation on the ground for family physicians
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Dr. Greg Sawisky. (File photo)

As Ponoka's hospital and medical clinic continue to struggle with heavy patient loads, the province's recent announcement of a new primary care physician compensation model is being received as welcome news. 

Last month, the Government of Alberta rolled out the long-awaited compensation plan, having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) in 2023.

The health care situation in Alberta has been critical for some time. 

In September, 2024, while awaiting the province's treasury board to approve the pay deal, AMA president Dr. Shelley Duggan said Alberta doctors were worried the province’s health-care system was on the verge of flatlining. 

"We are deeply, sincerely afraid that the health-care system in Alberta is ready to collapse past the point of repair any time soon. And because we must advocate for our patients, our patience has come to an end,” said Duggan at the time.

The pay deal aims to ensure family doctors stay in the province and attract more doctors to Alberta. It's structured to encourage physicians to grow the number of patients they care for through incentives for number of patients seen, patient complexity and time spent providing care.

Enrolment in the primary care physician compensation model began in January with full implementation by spring 2025, provided there are at least 500 physicians enrolled, the province says.

"The new proposed funding model for family doctors is sorely needed," said Ponoka family physician Dr. Gregory Sawisky.

"Alberta needs to catch up to what all the other provinces are doing: Recognizing the cost and time commitment required to provide quality primary care to Albertans," said Sawisky.

"While not all the details are understood, I am hopeful that this new model will entice people to consider pursuing the worthwhile and rewarding career of family medicine. I am also hopeful that this model will help keep family doctors in the community."

The province stated it worked with AMA to create the pay model. 

"This model recognizes the extensive training, experience and leadership of primary care physicians, and we hope it will help Alberta to attract and retain more family medicine specialists who provide comprehensive care," said Duggan in a press release.

Under the new model, family physicians who aren't compensated through the traditional fee-for-service model will now receive higher pay rates under their alternative relationship plan. This includes those who provide inpatient care in hospitals and rural generalists. 

Ponoka continues to have a high need for primary care.

In a post on their social media page on Jan. 2, Battle River Medical Clinic asked for people's patience, stating they receive 70-90 calls in the first hour they are open each day. 

The Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre's emergency department was going to close overnight on Jan. 13 due to an unexpected gap in physician shortage, however, Alberta Health Services was able to find coverage that afternoon and the closure was cancelled. 

"It was only a few short years ago that the UCP went to war with family doctors," said Sawisky.

"It is reassuring to see that they seem to have understood some of their mistakes and are trying to improve the situation on the ground for family physicians.

"When Albertans have access to a family doctor, they use fewer hospital resources and these means that the system saves money. Any fiscal conservative with half a cerebral cortex understands that investing in primary care leads to significant cost savings for the taxpayer."

- With files from the Canadian Press



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I'm a reporter for Ponoka News and have lived in Ponoka since 2015.
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