Starting next week, nurse practitioners specializing in primary care will be able to begin taking on patients who have registered for a family doctor.
Health Minister Christian Dubé made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.
Dubé described the change as a way of offering Quebecers better access to a health professional.
Currently, only family doctors can treat people who register with the Quebec Family Doctor Finder.
As of April 15, primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) working in the 11 NP clinics will also be able to directly register patients who are on the waitlist.
The government plans to extend this measure to all specialized nurse practitioner settings.
Quebec estimates that, eventually, more than 1,000 public health nurses (PHNs) will be able to take charge of patients, “which will significantly improve access to primary care for the population of Quebec.”
Minister Dubé will discuss the news changes in more detail on Thursday afternoon, where he will speak at the annual general meeting of the Association des infirmières praticiennes spécialisées du Québec.
“We need to rebuild the front line of healthcare, and that means making a greater contribution from all healthcare professionals: the right professional, for the right patient, at the right time – that’s what we’ve committed to in the health plan,” he said.
PHNs are nurses with at least two years’ experience who have completed a master’s degree in nursing and a complementary diploma in medical sciences.
Nurses specializing in primary care can provide support for people suffering from chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or hypertension, and treat common health problems such as ear infections or urinary tract infections.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews