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MARY ANNE JABLONSKI: Working on access to health care

Mary Anne Jablonski says Progressive Conservatives are working on Albertans’ biggest concern — access to health care.
Jablonski Mary Anne 10/01/07 jer
Mary Anne Jablonski

Mary Anne Jablonski says Progressive Conservatives are working on Albertans’ biggest concern — access to health care.

The Tory incumbent for Red Deer North said 40 per cent of people using emergency departments don’t need emergency care according to a study by the Centre for Disease Control.

To redirect patients, the PCs announced it would establish 140 Family Care Clinic over three years to increase access to primary health care and treatment for less serious health issues like simple fractures and stitching wounds.

Jablonski said Family Care Clinics will help reduce the wait in emergency.

“Family Care Clinics will be open late so you don’t have to go to emergency if it’s not an emergency. There will be a team of professionals for people who need care,” said Jablonski, 59.

As chair of the Continuing Care Centre Secretariat, Jablonski supports aging in place for so seniors won’t have to move as their care needs increase. Two test sites are planned, including one in Red Deer,

The new 100-bed Villa Marie will be built and run by Covenant Health in Clearview Ridge.

“(Covenant Health) have all the permits from the city. We expect them to have their shovel in the ground by June the latest and built by the fall of 2013.”

She said fiscal discipline is also important to Albertans. A healthy economy provides jobs and supports the education and health systems.

“The better the economy, the better it is for everyone.”

Jablonski, a fourth-term MLA, served as Minister for Seniors and Community Supports in Stelmach’s second cabinet in 2008.

Her and her husband Bob, who live just outside Red Deer in the constituency’s former boundaries, have three adult children and five grandchildren.

szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com