For the first time in Quebec, supernurses will be able to take care of patients without being supervised by a doctor. Ultimately, the Legault government hopes to add 1,000 new professionals capable of meeting the needs of the population.
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, will announce today a major change in access to the first line, during his appearance at the congress of the Association of Specialized Nurse Practitioners.
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According to information from our Parliamentary Office, as of April 15, primary care NPs will be able to directly register patients who are waiting on the Family Doctor Access Desk.
For the moment, these professionals with a master’s degree must be supervised by a family doctor, even if Quebec has broadened their field of expertise in recent years.
Indeed, since 2020, IPS can diagnose diseases and prepare follow-up plans, particularly for hypertension, asthma and obstructive pulmonary diseases. They can also provide pregnancy monitoring.
In the event that a case exceeds their scope of expertise, they may refer the patient to a family doctor or another health professional.
Negotiations with doctors
Initially, today’s announcement will mainly concern the thirty super nurses who work in the eleven IPS clinics already open.
However, Quebec plans to inaugurate 8 other branches during the year, for a total of 23 by 2028.
A source explains that professionals who work within a Family Medicine Group (GMF) could technically benefit from the same autonomy. However, doctors will have to give their consent.
Moreover, the current negotiations to renew the agreement with family doctors aim to allow all NPs on the front line to take care of patients without supervision.
If Quebec comes to an agreement with the Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec, this would mean that nearly a thousand specialized nurse practitioners will be able to directly respond to the needs of patients on the front line.
During the study of Bill 11 aimed at increasing access to front-line services, the Association of Specialized Nurse Practitioners advocated for an expansion of the autonomy of its members.
The IPS, she said, can help reduce the waiting list at the Family Doctor Access Center, where more than 630,000 Quebecers are still waiting. In total, more than 2.3 million people are without a family doctor in the province.
“The single registration model for a family doctor must be rethought,” asserted the association.
The AIPSQ argued in particular that, when a general practitioner retires, his patients are deregistered and become orphans again, even if they are in fact followed by a specialized nurse practitioner.
Certain health problems covered by IPS
- High pressure (high blood pressure)
- Ankle strain (sprain)
- Pregnancy monitoring
- Pediatric follow-up
- End-of-life palliative care
- Infections (throat, urinary, otitis, etc.)
- Musculoskeletal problem
- Work stoppage, SAAQ, CNESST
Source: MSSS