Challenging times for our province

By Leela Sharon Aheer Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Hello Chestermere-Strathmore readers. To begin, I just want to say thank you to all of you for the incredible sacrifices many of you have made due to the challenging times we find ourselves in as a result of COVID-19.  

I have spoken with so many of you and I appreciate the wisdom, the advice, and the constructive criticism with regards to our policies, and I also can appreciate how hard things have been for you because of the speed with which things are coming at you from every angle. I know that on top of things being difficult, and sometimes overwhelming, that you may not agree with everything that the government has done with respect to our COVID-19 response, but we are listening and trying to improve as we move through this unprecedented time together. We have all been able to flatten the curve of this virus and I’m so proud to represent you.

I would like to chat with you about some of the innovative changes we are pursuing in response to the unprecedented challenges we face as a result of COVID-19. We want to enhance care for residents of nursing homes by making sure that health professionals can use their skills to the fullest. Nurse Practitioners, for example, are highly trained Registered Nurses with advanced degrees. They have skills that include aspects of primary care. Our talented NPs will be able to admit and assess residents and offer follow up care. This would include prescribing drugs and ordering treatments within their scope of practice. The care of our residents in nursing homes would continue as it has regarding operators and staff.  

Regulations in nursing homes have, until now, disallowed Nurse Practitioners and other health professionals from working to the full scope of practice that they’re trained for. We would like to be able provide high quality care for our precious residents in nursing homes while easing the pressure on physicians, who would still oversee operations as medical directors. Not only does this allow residents in nursing homes to get the care they need as quickly as possible, but it allows for more continuity of care, and proactive and preventative medicine. These amendments will remove barriers for these health professionals to prescribe drugs, order treatments, and special diets. These amendments would not apply to auxiliary hospitals or extended care, just nursing homes, and will bring the regulations governing nursing homes into alignment with the current scopes of practice of health professionals under the Health Professions Act. 

Phase 1 of the relaunch strategy has begun. I am happy to report that AHS is opening up our health facilities to elective day surgeries with priority to the most urgent cases. As society reopens please remember to follow the guidelines that will be in place to protect you and the businesses that serve you. As always, I love to hear from you. Please email my office at chestermere.strathmore@assembly.ab.ca or call 403-962-0126.

(Leela Sharon Aheer is the MLA Elect for Chestermere-Strathmore, Minister of Status of Women and Minister of Culture and Multiculturalism)