Alberta Health Services (AHS) currently administers the POCP, but the new Provincial Health Agencies and Provincial Health Corporation may be involved with POCP in the future.
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Physician On-Call Program (POCP) Information
Following a review of the POCP initiated in 2024, AHS has implemented changes to the eligibility and application process for POCP in 2026. The following information about the POCP is current as of March 2, 2026.
Important dates
- The start date for all new programs to POCP is April 1, 2026.
- For programs that have previously received on-call funding, the new POCP will begin on June 1, 2026
Eligibility
- Each program should receive a minimum number of 10 phone calls or requests for clinical service delivery or support per month (except for those with reasonable rationale, such as being an essential service or required to meet accreditation standards).
- Family physicians who provide on call services primarily as hospitalists for unattached medicine inpatients in an eligible facility, for low-risk obstetrics patients and seniors for eligible continuing care/long term care facilities whereby the physician is not the community provider are eligible.
- Physicians privileged to provide services in an acute care facility require the appropriate infrastructure/resources to provide after-hours care. For example, after hours surgery requires anesthesia services.
- POC programs must not duplicate the services that are already being provided by other eligible on call programs or other consultative services (e.g., eReferral)
NOTE: Following the review process, AHS is not accepting new POCP applications at this time. Physicians will be notified when new applications are available.
POCP Categories and Payment Rates
- On Site: Physician required to be on-call and on site at all times. These physicians are unable to leave the site while on call.
- Level 1: Physician can be off site while on call but be available by phone immediately and present on site within 15 to 30 minutes. Level 1 call categories have been assigned to critical care and first response trauma services requiring an immediate response for patient care.
- Level 2: Physician can be off site while on call but available by phone within 15 minutes. Some calls may require immediate on-site presence, but many may not. Response times are, however, dependent on situation and on patient acuity.
- Level 3: Physician primarily off-site but available by phone or virtually within 15 mins with many being consultative or virtual. These services can be very busy and can require on-site presence. Level 3 has been utilized to support services that do not admit inpatients under their service.
Payment Rates
|
Category |
Hourly Rate |
|
On-site |
$27.30 |
|
Level 1 |
$25.10 |
|
Level 2 |
$18.82 |
|
Level 3 |
$12.60 |