Alberta’s government is investing in made-in-Alberta solutions to strengthen the’s primary health care system, including Indigenous primary health care. These new grants will support projects that improve access, reduce administrative burdens, and team-based care so all people in Alberta can get the care they need, when and where they need it.
The grants are being awarded through two innovation-focused programs: the Primary Care Innovation Fund and the Indigenous Primary Health Care Innovation Fund. These funds will support 19 projects that will improve primary care, advance research and innovation, and support community health priorities.
The $5-million Primary Care Innovation Fund is supporting five projects that will help improve access to care, support early detection of dementia and other conditions, provide post-reproductive care for women, advance research and clinical trials, and harness the potential of artificial intelligence to improve health care services.
The $20-million Indigenous Primary Health Care Innovation Fund is supporting 14 community-led initiatives, including virtual care clinics, cultural reconnection, facility upgrades, and Elder care. The funding is flexible so Indigenous communities can address their specific priorities and support culturally appropriate care.
Both of the grant programs stem from a recommendation in the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Care System (MAPS) final report. MAPS was created to strengthen Alberta’s primary health care system and ensure all people in Alberta have access to timely, appropriate care throughout their lives.
To further support access to primary care for Indigenous patients and families, the Indigenous Support Line will be expanded to Edmonton and Calgary on June 1. The phone line has supported more than 10,000 callers over the past three years with health system navigation, access to cultural supports, language services, and more.
Operated by Health Link in partnership with the Indigenous Wellness Core, the line connects callers with health professionals who understand Indigenous ways of knowing and traditional healing practices.
The support line can also be utilized by front-line health care providers to assist in providing culturally appropriate care. Providers can use the support line to learn about cultural support services, Indigenous ways of knowing, traditional healing practices, access to ceremony, and other services that may assist their patients.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
