The province is resuming non-urgent surgeries and numerous other regulated professional health services.

Chiropractors, physiotherapists, psychologists, optometrists, audiologists, and dieticians are among those that can choose to resume their services, provided they follow all Alberta Health guidelines in order to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Each individual clinic or work space will be responsible for determining their ability to keep staff and patients safe as they begin to reopen. The province is working to develop specific guidelines for health professionals that include things like physical distancing, patient screening, care of patients with COVID-19, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning procedures.

In addition to the reopening of these health services, the province says it will take a "carefully controlled and phased approach" to re-offering non-urgent surgeries. A news release from the Government of Alberta states the restrictions will be lifted in regions where hospitals and clinic capacity does not present a significant risk.

Priority will be given to the most urgent patients and those who have been waiting the longest for surgery. AHS will be in contact with patients on wait-lists.

“Many Albertans have had to delay important non-urgent scheduled procedures in order for us to ensure our health-care system was prepared for an influx of patients with COVID-19," says Health Minister Tyler Shandro. "Thanks to the measures our government and AHS have taken, and the hard work and dedication of front-line health-care workers, our health-care system now has the capacity to begin resuming some of these procedures. Together, we will move forward, get patients the care they need, surround vulnerable Albertans with a ring of defence and build back our province one step at a time.”

Shandro says the province will continue to evaluate and determine additional procedures that can resume in the coming weeks, such as short-term overnight stays.

 

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