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New Health Authority
takes effect April 1
Tenille Tellman
ttellman@medicinehatnews.com
While many Albertans feel uninformed about the
direction our provincial health system is moving,
those in control are confident in the future.
Regional health boards were dissolved in May,
2008 and replaced with Alberta Health Services
(AHS), a single governance authority which legally
takes effect April 1, 2009.
NEWS FILE PHOTO
EMMA BENNETT
“They’ve been at it for a while, but that is the
Registered Nurse Patricia Campbell
official, legal date when the regions no longer
goes about her duties earlier this year.
exist,” explained Alberta Health and Wellness
Alberta Health Services (AHS) legally
spokesman Howard May.
takes effect April 1, 2009.
The overall goal of the new system is to provide
the right service to patients in the right place and at the right time, says May. As the province
which spends more per capita than any other in the country, there are still a number of issues
this new system has set out to address.
Creative thinking is necessary to ensure patient access, says May. Wait lists are no longer
corrected by the stroke of a pen because everything is so intertwined.
One of the major changes to the delivery of service will include changes to the scope of
practice for health care providers. Paramedics may be able to triage a patient instead of
simply rushing them to a hospital and other health professionals can spend more time doing
the work they are trained to.
Primary care clinics are another way to ensure basic medical services are still provided, but
• Expert Advice
not where emergencies may need to be addressed.
• Expert Shop Services
Government has also agreed to cover midwifery services to help ease the strain on hospitals
• Expert Installations
and doctors and moved ambulance services away from municipalities to the provincial
• Expert Door Shop
responsibility.
Specializing in unique and hard to source
Obtaining the necessary workforce to meet the needs of Albertans is another provincial
priority, says May. Government can approve all the infrastructure it wants, but it is ineffective
5
without the staff to fill the buildings.
Specializing
finishing items
in unique
for your
and
home’
hard
s
to
interior
source
.
These issues were considered in a provincial review of all health facilities in the province. The
• Interior & exterior doors • Oak, Maple & paint grade mouldings
McKinsey Report set out to look at ways to ensure all communities have access to service
• Hardwood flooring • Laminate flooring • Exotic lumber • Cabinet
finishing items for your home’s interior.
40261642•03/24/09
40162205•03/29/0 where it makes the most sense. Recommendations from the report will be considered as AHS
•
plywoods •
doors • hardwood
Wood & metal spindles •
flooring • mouldings
H
•
ar
stains
dware • A
& finishes
nd much mor
• hardwar
e
e
lays out plans for the next three years.
• cabinetwoods • lumber • plywood • counter top laminates • laminate floors
Locally, the former Palliser Health Region is continuing to provide services to patients with
fewer barriers.
• adhesives • craft & hobby supplies • spindles • and much, more!
“Nothing has changed, our goal was and continues to be around service excellence,” said
Linda Iwasiw, senior vice-president of health services for the Alberta Health Services —
Palliser Health Region.
Recent developments and successes include the introduction of patient navigation for
cardiac and stroke access, hiring more staff in the Emergency department at the Medicine
Hat Regional Hospital and a focus on preventing the spread of illness in local facilities.
403-526-6854 • MEDICINE HA
“We’ve been very successful in terms of being able to manage those infection control issues
526-6854 • MEDICINE HAT
T
and prevent outbreaks.”
Exciting endeavours in the future include a heart function clinic in cooperation with
cardiologists from Calgary, CT scan services in Brooks and the development of a local-
545
provincial initiative with Alberta Bone and Joint.
526-6854
- 17th STREET
• MEDICINE
S.W. • FAX 526-7762
But the real uncertainty remains in the fate of the previously-approved Medicine Hat
HOURS: Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm • Sat: 8:00am - 5:00pm • Closed
HA
Sunday
T
Regional Hospital expansion project. Alberta Health Minister Ron Liepert has indicated
some infrastructure projects may not move ahead as originally planned, pending AHS
Watch for our new location at
545 - 17th STREET S.W. • FAX 526-7762
announcements based on recommendations from the McKinsey report.
Bruce Conway, spokesperson for AHS, says the report is just one high-level strategic planning
HOURS: Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm • Sat: 8:00am - 5:00pm • Closed Sunday
2101 - 10 Avenue SW Opening Spring 2009!
document being used to develop a new provincial health care vision and what plans have
been made have yet to be revealed.
Visit us on the net:
www.windsorplywood.com
Asked when these plans may be announced, Conway replied: “I have no details on any of
that right now.”
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