Permanent changes for expanded care in nursing homes

By Janet Kanters, Editor

Changes to Alberta’s nursing homes regulations mean residents can access direct primary care from nurse practitioners beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

The amended regulations remove barriers permanently so nurse practitioners can act as primary care providers in nursing homes, admitting and assessing residents, as well as offering follow-up care. Permanent changes also allow nurse practitioners and other health professionals to prescribe medication and order treatments in nursing homes, according to their scopes of practice.

“We heard from nursing home operators that the changes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic make a real difference,” said Tyler Shandro, Alberta Minister of Health, in a news release. “That’s why our government is making the regulatory changes permanent and ensuring nursing home residents have better access to primary care going forward.”

Changes will be made to the two regulations under the Nursing Homes Act: the Nursing Homes General Regulation and the Nursing Homes Operation Regulation.

According to Dr. Verna You, president and chief executive officer with Alberta Health Services, nurse practitioners “are an integral part of the patient’s journey, and they play an important role in the delivery of health care across the province. This change will remove legislative barriers and further support the provision of improved, accessible care for residents in long-term care.”

Nursing home residents can now receive prescriptions for Schedule 1 drugs and orders for common diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans, directly from nurse practitioners and other qualified health professionals, according to their scopes of practice and at the discretion of the operator.