Q: I read your notice about blended capitation. Is there an additional fee for patients over and above Alberta Health Care?
A: There will be no additional fees at your end, your healthcare continues to be covered by the provincial Alberta Health Care (AHC) insurance plan. There are still services we provide that are not covered by AHC (i.e.: missed appointment fees, insurance forms, travel injections, driver's license medicals, etc.) those Uninsured Services remain an out-of-pocket cost to you. The big change in terms of the payment method is how Alberta Health pays the doctors.
What changes for you?
- We will have more appointments available – you may be able to be seen sooner in the clinic
- You may see an allied health worker (pharmacist, registered nurse) instead of a doctor at some appointments.
- We ask that you contact us first when you need to receive care (instead of going to a walk-in clinic). (Unless you are in an emergency situation – in that event go straight to the emergency room).
Q: I am curious about the written commitment to contact you first for medical needs. As a patient, am I somehow penalized if I do not do that? For example, if I’m traveling and in another city and need medical care, am I prevented from visiting a walk-in clinic?
A: We are committed to providing care to our patients in need. If you are out of town and need care, we may be able to provide that to you virtually (i.e. book a telephone appointment and/or use secure email). There are many conditions that can be treated virtually. If you’re not sure, please call the clinic to ask and we can help guide you.
Of course, we realize that some needs cannot be dealt with over the phone and at times, patients will need to receive care elsewhere. You will not be financially penalized; in this event, Alberta Health will take money away from Grandin Medical Clinic – so you can imagine if a lot of patients go to walk-in clinics that can cause a problem for us! We will be notified by Alberta Health when a patient receives care from a general practitioner (family or walk-in doctor) outside of Grandin Medical Clinic, and will for the first year be monitoring where and why this is happening and try to come up with strategies to help our patients avoid this where at all possible.
We’re not saying you can’t go elsewhere, we’re asking that you contact us first if you need care, to give us the opportunity to help you before you make the choice to go somewhere else.
To be clear – if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, don’t hesitate – to go straight to an emergency room for treatment or call 911.
Q: What should I do if I can’t get an appointment with Grandin Medical Clinic?
A: If you have run out of a regular medication please contact your pharmacy and ask if they can give you an extension of the prescription until you can get an appointment. Certain medications may be extended by your pharmacist.
If you need urgent care during office hours Monday to Friday 9:00 am -12:00 pm, 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm call the main clinic number (780) 459-5581 and press 1 and listen for your family doctor’s name. We also have an Urgent Care clinic Saturdays from 9:00 am – 11:30 am on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you need urgent care after hours or on a weekend and cannot wait until business hours, please call the main clinic number (780) 459-5581 and listen for the prompts to speak with the on-call doctor.
Q: I can never get through to Grandin Medical or wait on hold for long periods and get cut off, how am I supposed to commit to contacting Grandin Medical first if I need to be seen right away?
A: We recently made some changes to our phone system and we are adding to our reception team to have more people available to answer your calls.
We have online booking for telephone appointments active, which is helpful to avoid the phone system.
Q: My family doctor is a male and I am female, I’m not comfortable seeing him for my Pap smear, I normally go to the Women’s Health Clinic for this – what should I do?
A: We can accommodate you by booking pap smears with one of our Registered Nurses here at Grandin Medical Clinic, please specify that you would like to see a female Registered Nurse for the appointment.
If you are due for an annual physical you may be booked with your male family doctor for the larger part of the exam, and have a separate appointment booked with a Registered Nurse for any pap smears.
Q: I was referred to a specialist, can I still go to that appointment?
A: Yes! We only encounter an issue when you see a "general practitioner" (family doctor) at another office. We encourage you to attend any appointments that require a referral.
In addition to physician-specialists (i.e. dermatologists, gastroenterologists, etc.), you are still welcome to receive care from any physiotherapist, chiropractor, naturopath, pharmacist, or acupuncturist of your choice as they are not classified as a family doctor.
Q: Do my children under 18 need to have an Affiliation Form signed, and as their parent can I sign on their behalf?
A: Yes, every patient will need to have a completed Affiliation Form. Parents can sign for their children under the age of 18.
Q: I am a caregiver/legal guardian/decision-maker for a person over the age of 18, do I need to complete and sign the Affiliation Form on their behalf?
A: Yes, you will need to complete and sign the Affiliation Form, and you may have to provide proof that you can legally act for this individual (under section 104 of Alberta’s Health Information Act) if we don't already have a copy of proof on file.
Q: What happens if I choose not to sign an Affiliation Form?
A: If you choose not to sign an Affiliation Form, you would be confirming that you do not want to continue being a patient here at Grandin Medical, and you would be responsible for finding a new family doctor. After that, under certain circumstances, we could provide you with care up to two times in a two-year period.
Q: What is a "Medical Home"?
A: The medical home, also known as the Patient-Centered Medical Home, is a team-based health care delivery model led by a healthcare provider to provide comprehensive and continuous medical care to patients with a goal to obtain maximal health outcomes. Simply put, a medical home is your home base in the health care system. It is where your family physician coordinates your health needs in collaboration with other care providers in your health neighborhood, such as nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, and social workers.
Q: My doctor mentioned “Continuity of Care", what is that, and does it matter to me?
A: Continuity of Care is when a patient consistently sees the same family doctor and team (primary care team). Continuity of care is about improving patients’ health through stronger, ongoing relationships with their primary care team, increased information sharing among the team, and enhanced care coordination. Having a good relationship with a primary care team and being strongly “attached” to a family doctor benefits your health in a number of ways. Being strongly “attached” means seeing your primary care team whenever it is possible. If your primary care team is always your go-to for health concerns, then they are aware of all your health issues and can help you make more informed health decisions.
A high level of Continuity of Care results in:
1. Increased patient satisfaction
2. Increased health care screening
3. Increased efficiency of diagnosis
4. Improved outcomes of chronic disease
5. Decreased emergency room visits
6. Decreased hospital admissions
7. Decreased diagnostic tests rate
8. Decreased prescription rate
Q: I have a family member or friend that needs a family doctor, can they get into Grandin Medical Clinic now?
A: Some of our doctors may be accepting a limited number of new patients. These patients will be on-boarded in stages, not all at once. We don't have a schedule for when this happens so you can inquire with the reception staff on the 15th day of each month if any physicians are taking new patients for the following month by calling (780) 459-5581 ext. 1. Once a doctor opens their practice, a new patient will be booked for a "Meet & Greet" appointment to discuss medical history and get to know the doctor.
Click here for more information about the Blended Capitation Clinic Alternative Relationship Plan (ARP) Model (https://www.alberta.ca/blended-capitation-clinical-alternative-relationship-plan-model.aspx
Download the Clinical Alternative Relationship Plan Affiliation Agreement Form here
How do I return my form?
We are happy to receive your completed form in whatever way is the most convenient for you!
Fax: 780-458-7515
Return Mail:
Grandin Medical Clinic
1 St. Anne Street
St. Albert, AB
T8N 2E8
Still, have questions about the Affiliation Agreement?
Please call our Affiliation Coordinator at 780-459-1788