Alberta is reorganizing its health care system
The province delegates the authority of Alberta Health Services to four special organizations.
Alberta is reorienting its health care system. The current structure limits system-wide oversight, system prioritization and demands accountability for government. And for residents of the province, it results in increased wait times, disruptions to health care services and difficult access to care.
What's going to change?
The government is eliminating the current system, which will redistribute the responsibilities of Alberta Health Services among 4 agencies. Each will be responsible for one area of health services:
- Acute care;
- Primary care;
- Continuing care;
- Mental health and addictions.
"For too many years, Alberta’s health care system has been too complex and uncoordinated, leading to unacceptable wait times and poorer health outcomes for Albertans. It’s time to change that," commented provincial Premier Danielle Smith.
Acute care
The organization will oversee inpatient care, urgent care centers, cancer care, clinical operations, and acute care. The provincial organization will work directly with acute care providers.
Among the unit's primary goals are to improve response rates, increase accessibility to emergency care in rural areas, and reduce emergency room wait times.
Primary care
Includes services to meet everyday health needs: visits to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, primary care network visits, consultations with a specialist, preventive care, and chronic disease management.
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