Progress being made in Alberta's healthcare refocus

According to the provincial government, progress is being made on a refocused healthcare system.

In November, the government unveiled plans for a restructured healthcare system aimed at delivering timely and suitable care to patients. This initiative involves establishing four new organizations, each dedicated to acute care, primary care, continuing care, and mental health and addiction services.

The province also mentioned healthcare workers, patients, families, caregivers, and community leaders throughout Alberta have actively contributed to shaping the future of healthcare. Their involvement marks one of the largest in-person public engagements ever initiated by the Alberta government.

So far, over 2,500 individuals have engaged in the in-person sessions, while an additional 18,000 Albertans have shared their feedback through online platforms. Nearly 10,000 participants have joined virtual town halls.

Responding to calls for increased face-to-face discussions on healthcare issues and solutions, Alberta Health has scheduled an additional 22 sessions.

“Our goal is to build a stronger health care system informed by Albertans with real stories and real experiences. These engagement sessions have highlighted the importance of ensuring the new healthcare system is informed by front-line healthcare experts, as they have the most knowledge of the current system and the challenges and gaps that exist. With Albertans’ help, we will build a refocused health care system that better supports the well-being of front-line workers and prioritizes the needs of patients,” stated Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health.

The ongoing in-person engagement sessions are set to conclude in mid-April. However, as efforts to refocus Alberta's healthcare system persist, new opportunities for engagement will be crafted for frontline workers and residents to contribute input and insights into shaping the healthcare landscape moving forward.

Key themes arising from the engagement sessions include the call for hefty system integration to enhance patient experiences, increased autonomy for local decision-making, and the imperative for bolstering the healthcare workforce.

“Refocusing the health system has brought Albertans together – all coming to the table and voicing what is working well in the current system, what are the challenges, and how it can be improved," mentioned Christian Tokarski, manager of governance, Covenant Health. 'We applaud the government on the largest public engagement in recent history, as well as listening and actioning the advice of Albertans. Covenant is looking forward to transforming the health care system together with a focus on holistic system outcomes where our patients and residents are at the core of all decision-making.”

By mid-April, a total of sixty-five in-person engagement sessions will have been conducted. One of the engagement sessions took place in Airdrie.

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