A new program from the provincial government wants to see if there's interest from Nurse Practitioners to provide publicly funded primary care services. In a release sent out yesterday, the province says it's looking for expressions of interest (EOI) from Nurse Practitioners to see if a public healthcare change could be feasible.
The initiative would allow Nurse Practitioners to work to the full scope of their practice, increase access to publicly funded primary care services, and promote collaborative care in the province.
"We are committed to ensuring that every Saskatchewan resident has access to a primary care provider by 2028," said Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill. "This new initiative creates more opportunities for Nurse Practitioners throughout the health system and improves access to primary care services across our province."
The expression of interest, a form which lets the government know if a Nurse Practitioner would like to expand their primary care role, opens today. The province hopes to see applicants submit their forms by July 6 at midnight.
Following those submissions, invitations to apply will be sent out in late July. Successful applicants will be able to function as independent contractors after signing a contract developed by the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health initiative is working in concert with the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners (SANP) to help nurse practitioners move into the role.
"We are excited to see this project come to fruition, as it allows Nurse Practitioners to work both individually and alongside primary care physicians and allied health professionals," said SANP President Michelle O'Keefe. "We appreciate the efforts by the Ministry of Health to provide Nurse Practitioners access to an innovative funding model that promotes team-based care."
The new initiative comes after the province announced plans to develop a funding model which would allow Nurse Practitioners to deliver publicly funded primary care services in 2024.