Public Meetings on Proposal for New Primary Care and Urgent Care Center in AirdriePublic Meetings on Proposal for New Primary Care and Urgent Care Center in Airdrie One Health Associate Medical is inviting Airdrie residents to attend two public meetings in July to discuss their proposal for a new primary care and urgent care center. The meetings will be held on Saturday, July 13 at 2:30 PM and Sunday, July 14 at 10:00 AM in the Overtime Lounge of Ron Ebbesen Twin Arena. At the meetings, One Health will present plans for the new facility, which aims to increase capacity and provide comprehensive care, including primary care, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy, and specialist services. The center is intended to be a “one-stop shop” for most healthcare needs. Background The proposal comes amidst concerns about growing healthcare needs in Airdrie. According to Mayor Brown, a third of Airdrie residents do not have a general practitioner (GP). The new facility would address this issue by providing expanded primary care services. In April, the Alberta government granted $85,000 to One Health to develop a business plan for the project. The business plan is expected to be completed later this spring. Controversy Surrounding Previous Delays In January, planned renovations to the Airdrie Community Health Centre were temporarily postponed. One Health’s proposal emerged as a potential alternative, leading to some criticism. Some residents expressed concern about the lack of transparency and the potential for privatization. However, in February, the renovation plans were confirmed to be resuming. MLA Angela Pitt stated that the new proposal would be considered alongside the renovation plans. One Health’s Credentials and Commitment One Health Associate Medical has a 33-year history of providing healthcare in Airdrie. The organization has partnered with the University of Calgary to enhance medical training. In a press release, One Health emphasized their commitment to working closely with Alberta Health and sharing public input with the government. Public Engagement One Health encourages Airdrie residents to attend the public meetings and provide feedback on the proposal. The input gathered will be shared with Alberta Health as part of the decision-making process.
One Health Associate Medical is inviting Airdrie residents to two public meetings in July regarding their proposal for a new primary care and urgent care center.
According to a press release, the sessions will last one hour, during which One Health will give a short presentation on their plans, including the new purpose-built primary care and emergency care facility, and how they plan to increase the capacity of both primary care and emergency care, and much more.
“This is more than just a new urgent care facility,” said Dr. Julian Kyne. “The center will provide a one-stop shop for most of your health care needs, including primary care, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy, medical specialists and more.”
The public engagement sessions will be held on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 at 2:30 PM and 10:00 AM respectively in the Overtime Lounge, Ron Ebbesen Twin Arena.
One Health Associate Medical is a clinic in Airdrie that bills itself as a “full-service medical clinic providing timely access to urgent and ongoing health concerns.”
The news comes just weeks after Mayor Brown also addressed the issue in his State of the City address.
“The deputy minister was here two weeks ago and he looked me in the eye and he said this is going to happen. It’s an opportunity to triage patients at the beginning, so instead of sending a lot of patients to the emergency room, we send them to a real medical clinic,” Mayor Brown said in early June.
Mayor Brown added that a third of Airdrie residents do not have a GP.
“This new process – they are going to build differently. It is a completely new concept that the government is very supportive of. There are business plans; we have been working directly with Alberta Health and we hope to get news before the end of the summer whether this will be funded become.”
Timeline of events leading to public engagement sessions
Earlier this spring, the province said it would provide $85,000 to One Health Airdrie through a grant to jointly develop a detailed business plan for an integrated primary care and urgent care facility in the area.
Alberta Health officials previously said future public engagement on the proposal was planned and the business plan is expected to be completed later this spring.
“The Government of Alberta is also reviewing a proposal from One Health Airdrie for an additional and separate facility to support health care needs in Airdrie… When reviewing potential capital projects, Alberta Health assesses the ability of current facilities to accommodate future demand for health services across the province,” officials said in April.
In late March, during a session in Alberta’s Legislature, an exchange took place between MLA for Airdrie-East, Angela Pitt, and Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange. MLA Pitt had questioned the Minister of Health about updates regarding the renovations to the Airdrie Community Health Centre.
“Given that these necessary renovations to our urgent care center have begun again and given that this center will require further investment and expansion to meet population growth pressures, can the Minister of Health please update my constituents on the proposal being made by One Health and Qualico communities to meet the needs of my constituents?” MLA Pitt also asked during the March 28 session.
Minister LaGrange stated that Alberta Health has approved a grant agreement with One Health Associate Medical Airdrie Incorporated to develop their business case for a joint primary and emergency care model in Airdrie.
“One Health will work with contracted resource providers provided by the province to support the necessary community engagement, writing and development of the business plan. A request for proposal is underway to support this work and it is anticipated that the contract will be awarded within 24 hours. April of this year.”
The Health Minister also indicated that the government is well aware of the challenges faced by Airdrie residents when it comes to the city’s overstretched health care system.
“We want to ensure that every Albertan has access to care when and where they need it. AHS recently submitted a major capital needs assessment for health capital projects to Alberta Health, outlining the redevelopment of the Airdrie Community Health Centre. I look forward to seeing this move forward.”
Delay in renovations
In late January, DiscoverAirdrie learned that previously planned renovations to the city’s community health center had been temporarily postponed. Initially, Airdrie Health Foundation Executive Director Michelle Bates had written that the foundation was notified of the delay in January and was told the new proposal would be a privately delivered, publicly funded model.
In previous statements to DiscoverAirdrie, Alberta Health confirmed that the delays at the health center were to “ensure Albertans get their money’s worth.”
“Once One Health’s proposal is better developed and more information is received, the Alberta government can determine whether the project should proceed as planned or whether changes to scope and funding are required or recommended,” Alberta Health said .
However, a month later, in late February, MLA Pitt confirmed that the renovation would resume. She stressed that she had always supported the renovation. Earlier, when asked what she thought about halting the renovation, MLA Pitt said it came down to seeing if other options were a better use of taxpayer money.
“Ultimately, Airdrie needs a renovation; we need a new urgent care facility, and we need a hospital,” she said.
Criticism of initial delays
News of the delays prompted fierce criticism from Friends of Medicare, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition that advocates for universal public health care. Chris Gallaway, director of the group, was critical of not only the delay in renovations, but also what he called the lack of transparency surrounding the new health proposal.
“It doesn’t sound very responsible to us and it seems a bit dubious; behind the scenes and behind closed doors,” Gallaway said earlier.
According to the July 2 press release, “One Health has worked closely with Alberta Health and your input will be shared with Alberta Health.”
“One Health Associate Medical has a 33-year history of providing comprehensive, high-quality primary health care to people living in Airdrie and the surrounding area. Through innovation, leadership and shared values, it has helped shape community health practices and advanced medical training enhanced by its relationship with the University of Calgary.”
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