Timely access to surgeries is important to Albertans.
Alberta Health Services (AHS), in partnership with Alberta Health, developed the Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI), a plan that strives to ensure that all Albertans receive their scheduled surgeries within clinically appropriate targets. We’re focusing on improving the patient’s surgical journey, from the time patients seek advice from their family doctor, to when they are referred to a specialist, to their surgery and rehabilitation.
The Alberta Surgical Initiative has already led to a reduced backlog of cases and in some areas, more surgeries being completed now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. To continue our work to reduce wait-times and improve access to surgeries, AHS is focused on the following actions:
The ASI reflects input from patient advisors, AHS operational leaders, family physicians, surgical teams, clinical and corporate support teams and quality improvement programs.
To support this work, AHS is partnering with the Institute for Healthcare Optimization (IHO), to improve patient outcomes and experience as part of the ASI. IHO is a non-profit organization that works with hospitals and health systems. IHO methodologies will help AHS drive further improvements in surgical flow and patient outcomes.
The Institute will initially focus on supporting AHS teams in process and outcome improvement in six of our larger acute care sites: Chinook Regional Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, Royal Alexandra Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital.
The goal of this work, coupled with other ASI projects, is to continue to improve patient experience, staff and physician experience, better utilize capacity, and improve collaboration and support for primary care providers, surgeons and anesthesiologists.
Alberta Health Announces Budget 2023 Focus on Expanding Capacity at Chinook Regional Hospital
April 18, 2023
Alberta Health Announces Budget 2023 Focus on Building Surgical Capacity
April 6, 2023
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Faster Surgical Recoveries Benefit Patients, Boost Capacity
March 31, 2023
Alberta Health Announces Healthcare Action Plan Steps to Lower Surgical Wait Times in Calgary
January 23, 2023
New FAST Program helps improve access to specialists
December 21, 2022
AHS Seeking To Expand Access To Surgery in Central & South Zones
September 7, 2022
AHS Continues to Reduce Wait Times for Cancer Surgeries
August 24, 2022
New Vendors Preparing To Join AHS To Provide Orthopedic Surgeries For Albertans
June 1, 2022
AHS Enters into Ophthalmology Contracts
April 22, 2022
Anesthesia Care Team Model
April 5, 2022