The Alberta government says its new dual practice health model, which allows some physicians to practise in both the public and private systems, will begin to be rolled out in September.
The province says an expression of interest process for eligible physicians will open June 22, followed by a formal application process later this summer.
In order to be eligible for dual practice, doctors must do a minimum number of hours in the public system first. The province says those hour requirements along with other safeguards will protect the public system.
The province announced the dual practice model in November, prompting calls from doctors to ensure the program has strong oversight.
Premier Danielle Smith has said the dual practice model will help reduce wait times.
The regulations for the program were developed after consulting some health care professionals, the province said.
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The province has not disclosed the number of hours physicians must dedicate to the public system, but those requirements will be set for each specialty and geographic area by Acute Care Alberta and the ministries of health.
If physicians don’t fulfill their public hours on an ongoing basis, they will lose their dual practice status.
Eligible procedures include those offered at non-hospital surgical facilities like carpal tunnel release, joint surgeries, or some laparoscopic surgeries for endometriosis for example.
It will not include cancer surgeries or procedures for other life-threatening conditions.
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Family doctors will be excluded from the dual practice model except when they have a subspecialty in anesthesia or surgical skills, the government said.
However, Acute Care Alberta will be looking at expanding the model in the future to include dual-practice private surgeries in public hospitals where there’s underused operating rooms.
Dual practice doctors will have to maintain separate records for private systems and do mandatory reporting to the province.
