December 8, 2023
SYLVAN LAKE – Two nurse practitioners have been added to the care team at the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service, as part of ongoing efforts to support the health and wellness of community residents.
The nurse practitioners are working alongside nursing staff to provide care and support to residents in much the same way as local physicians now do.
“This is exciting news for the people of Sylvan Lake. This innovative approach to providing care for the community will enhance accessibility to nurses and ensure people’s needs are met in a timely manner,” says Devin Dreeshen, MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, and Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors.
According to facility medical director Dr. Jordan LaRue, the addition of nurse practitioners to the healthcare team signifies a new and innovative approach towards meeting the health needs of the community and supporting physicians at the facility.
"Providing consistent and timely care to our community is foremost on the minds of our physicians, and we are excited to expand upon the traditional team model to achieve this goal,” says Dr. LaRue.
“The support from our nurse practitioner colleagues will contribute to a sustainable practice model for our physicians working at Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service.”
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced knowledge and skills who can provide health promotion and primary care through the diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses and chronic conditions.
In a community-based setting, such as the local advanced ambulatory care service, they will perform comprehensive assessment and diagnosis (including the ordering and interpretation of tests), prescribe medications, and provide specialist referrals for patients of all ages.
“The introduction of nurse practitioners is a forward-thinking success for Sylvan Lake and the surrounding community, increasing the availability of primary care providers for urgent needs,” says Ceanna Gehl, one of the nurse practitioners.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to work together with the physicians, nurses and staff to navigate the best approach to care for each patient we serve.”
Alishea Morrison, the other nurse practitioner, says she is “driven to help bridge healthcare gaps by providing compassionate and timely care to patients. I am excited to work in collaboration with our physicians, nurses and staff to help meet the urgent care needs of our community.”
The addition of NPs to the local care team is part of AHS’ ongoing recruitment efforts and commitment to ensuring Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service remains available for those who need it. Recruitment efforts for additional physicians for Sylvan Lake continue, in collaboration with community partners. Such efforts have been successful, as one of the new recruits has begun practising in the community. Additional new physicians expected to arrive before the end of the year.
Open since 2018, Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service offers diagnosis and treatment of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. These include sudden illness or injury that normally could be cared for in a doctor’s office but require immediate attention. Examples of such care needs include minor cuts or burns, muscle and joint strains, bone fractures, and fever in young children. Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service is not for life-threatening emergencies, such as heart attack, signs/symptoms of stroke, head trauma or seizures.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
