By: Puneet Sangha
Alberta’s healthcare system is dealing with a critical nursing shortage, caused by high turnover rates, burnout, and an increased strain on in-person visits. The problem exacerbates the strain on nurses and compromises the sustainability of healthcare delivery. The proposed solution is a hybrid virtual care delivery model for case management. This model integrates virtual case management visits with existing technologies such as the MyChart platform and Alberta’s Connect Care EHR system. By enabling flexible scheduling and allowing nurses to conduct remote visits, this approach addresses burnout and retention issues while maintaining continuity of care. It leverages technology that is already in use to minimize training requirements and implementation challenges.
The impact of this problem is multifaceted and severe. Alberta’s healthcare system faces high operational costs, losing millions annually due to recruitment and overtime expenses. Nurses are overburdened, leading to high attrition rates and reduced job satisfaction. This situation also diminishes patient care accessibility and satisfaction, creating a ripple effect that compromises overall healthcare delivery. Without intervention, the system risks long-term unsustainability and declining quality of care.
Key stakeholders include the Alberta Ministry of Health, which can support policy changes and funding for the hybrid care model. The College of Registered Nurses of Alberta and United Nurses of Alberta must collaborate to ensure seamless implementation and address nurses’ training and satisfaction needs. Healthcare administrators and program management teams are critical for integrating the model into existing systems and workflows. Technology providers, such as those managing Connect Care and MyChart platforms, are essential for ensuring the tools function effectively and meet nurses’ needs. Finally, patients and nursing staff must be actively engaged to validate the model’s efficacy and provide feedback for continuous improvement.
The vision is to establish a sustainable, patient-centric healthcare delivery system that supports both nurses and patients. Successfully implementing this solution will reduce nurse burnout, enhance job satisfaction and retention, and improve access to care for patients. Furthermore, it will result in lower operational costs, increased efficiency, and a more robust healthcare system capable of meeting Alberta’s growing demands.
Evidence for solving this problem at scale comes from global initiatives and pilot programs. Virtual care models worldwide have shown improved patient outcomes, reduced hospital readmissions, and better chronic disease management. Successful implementation examples, such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s virtual-first healthcare model, demonstrate the scalability and effectiveness of hybrid approaches. Additionally, feedback from local stakeholders, including 71% of surveyed nurses supporting flexible working styles, reinforces the feasibility of adopting this model widely.
The economic rationale for addressing this issue is compelling. The current annual cost of inaction is estimated at $6.89M, driven by recruitment, overtime, and reduced care quality. Implementing the hybrid virtual care solution requires a one-time cost of $476,500 but offers significant savings through reduced recruitment and overtime expenses. This approach enhances retention, lowers system-wide costs, and increases overall operational efficiency, ensuring better resource allocation within Alberta’s healthcare system.
Several policy initiatives are essential for advancing this solution. At the provincial level, expanding billing codes for virtual care services and improving broadband access for rural clients are critical steps. Stakeholder engagement with organizations like the Alberta Ministry of Health, College of Registered Nurses of Alberta, and United Nurses of Alberta will be pivotal. Policymakers must also be presented with evidence-based outcomes from pilot projects, demonstrating the cost savings, improved health outcomes, and increased nurse satisfaction and retention resulting from the proposed hybrid care model.