North Zone

Family Medicine Workforce Mapping

Introduction North Primary Care Networks

Between 2012 and 2015, the Family Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are
Medicine physician (FMP) population groups of family doctors—and 97 out of 287
in the North Zone saw very minimal joint venture partnerships with FMPs are
growth. Only in 2015 did the FMP AHS—that coordinate the delivery accepting new
growth exceed population patients
of primary care services for
growth—the economic climate in the Fast Facts patients. A PCN can be comprised
zone may have been a contributing of one clinic with many physicians
factor. North total FMPs, 2015 North FMP average age
and support staff, or several

384 45.5
Fort McMurray
doctors in several clinics within a
However, despite this recent increase certain geographic area.
in FMP population, the urgent
demand for primary care is still not The North Zone has 12 PCNs 1 physician
being met in the zone. The North which include a total of 287 FMPs,
continues to be the most under- many of whom are accepting new
served FMP area in the province and Grande Prairie 50 physicians
patients.
the workforce priority is high for
Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Family Medicine physician population vs. general population

North FMPs

North Public

2013 From 2012 to 2015, FMP growth in 1.18 170 2015 Alberta Medical
the North Zone increased by a total FMPs per 1,000
of 9%, but the number of FMPs per School Graduates
1.14 Population 155
1,000 population only increased by
0.04, moving from 0.74 in 2012 to
0.78 in 2015.

2014 0.78
The North Zone falls below the More than half of all 2015
provincial and national FMPs Faculty of Medicine graduates
per 1,000 population averages. in Alberta focused in Family
Comparatively, the North Zone Medicine.
at a FMP to 1,000 population
rate of 0.78, is only one-half the
Calgary Urban rate of FMPs per
2015
1,000 (1.48).

Alberta average Family Medicine Program

Graduates
Canada average
0 5 10 15 20 Specialist Program
North zone average
Graduates
% increase

North Zone comparisons

Population data retrieved from: Alberta Health, Surveillance & Assessment Branch
Physician data retrieved from: College of Physicians & Surgeons Provincial Listing
PCN data provided by: Primary Care Network PMO Office and PCN websites