BARRHEAD-A local pharmacist is frustrated by what she perceives is a lack of movement in Barrhead in the creation of a Primary Care Network (PCN).
And that is why she is asking residents if they are interested in seeing one come to the community.
PCNs is an initiative that was started by the provincial government in 2003 along with the Alberta Medical Association and Alberta’s Regional Health Authorities (now Alberta Health Services) to improve access to family physicians and other frontline health care providers. They are funded through three-year grants from Alberta Health and primarily focus on preventative medicine initiatives.
She noted that Barrhead was supposed to join the Aspen PCN in April 2019 with services beginning in October but to her knowledge the community, although it is listed as being a member on its website, that is apparently where the affiliation ends.
"No doctors, clinics or programs are listed as being available in Barrhead through its website," she said.
Lyster added at one time the Barrhead Medical Clinic had been affiliated with the PCN but since its closure in December, its affiliation with the community has been negligible.
The Aspen PCN was formed in 2010, initially serving three communities it has grown to include Athabasca, Westlock, Barrhead, Swan Hills, Kinuso, High Prairie and Wabasca through partnerships with family doctors in those communities.
Aspen PCN executive director Luke Brimmage admits they are not as well known as they would like, but they are working hard to make inroads in the community.
Currently, he said they have partnerships with five local physicians, including one surgeon. Brimmage was reluctant to name the doctors as not of their colleagues in their particular clinics are participants, noting Barrhead officially joined the PCN late August.
Brimmage said the PCN offers services in Barrhead through partnering physicians at Barrhead Clinic.
Presently, the programs revolve around chronic illness.
"For those doctors who feel their patients can use more help, whether it be education or some other assistance to help them manage it, they can refer them to the PCN," he said.
Brimmage added that a PCN kinesiologist has been going to the Barrhead Clinic weekly to see patients whose pain can be managed through movement.
"It's not fitness classes or exercise but teaching people e-mobile how to be a little more mobile and how it can help them with their overall health," he said, noting the clients have been referred to the program by their doctor. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the program has been suspended temporarily.
He said the PCN was in the process of hiring a nurse who would have been in Barrhead two or three days a week seeing people who needed help with chronic disease management, but that too had to be put on hold because of COVID-19.
That being said, the PCN is still making use of her services at the Barrhead Clinic where she helps screen patients who might be carrying the virus.
Brimmage said Aspen PCN plans to expand its services in the community as their budget allows bringing specific programs that run independently from doctors.
For example, in Westlock, as part of its Cardiac Health program, a nurse in Westlock and Athabasca program provides clients with elevated cholesterol and triglycerides or have high blood pressure, learn ways to manage their health better.
He also noted regardless of what program a client accesses and who provides it, whether it be a nurse or some other medical professional, a person's family doctor is kept in the loop.
Ideally, Brimmage said the PCN would like to have a space to call their own which they would share with other physicians, Alberta Health Services, as well as other medical professions.
"Somewhere where they can walk in and access different services, talk to other health professionals without going to the hospital or go see my doctor, a one-stop shop for medical services," he said, admitting this is a long-term goal.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
