Multi-pronged strategy aimed at reducing ER pressures
October 20, 2010
EDMONTON – Alberta Health and Wellness and Alberta Health Services announced detailed service expansion targets today as part of the strategy to reduce pressures on hospital emergency departments. As part of a multi-pronged strategy, Alberta Health Services (AHS) will open additional continuing care, acute care and other support beds, with new beds coming on stream later this month.
Under this strategy, this aggressive approach to reduce emergency room waits now and over the coming months will include:
- opening approximately 250 acute care, transition, hospice, detox and continuing care beds in Edmonton and Calgary;
- implementing new discharge processes for hospitals across Alberta this fall;
- increased home care funding to help patients avoid needing to access emergency departments; and
- expansion of HealthLink Alberta information services to provide patients with real-time wait time information to help direct patients to the nearest emergency department or the emergency department with the shortest wait time, and also to ensure patients have information on multiple health care options.
“Over the past several months, I’ve personally visited about 20 emergency rooms across the province, speaking to patients, nurses and staff, and emergency room doctors. It’s clear that we must take immediate action to address emergency department wait times,” said Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Health and Wellness. “Albertans told us they want improved and faster access to Emergency Room care and they will get it through this new strategy.”
In Calgary, AHS will open approximately 100 new beds by the end of December; in Edmonton approximately 150 new beds will open by the end of December.
Earlier this week, Alberta Health Services also asked continuing care operators to submit expressions of interest if they have available capacity in existing facilities to take on additional patients in the Edmonton and Calgary areas. It is anticipated that operators may have additional beds and spaces which could be opened before the end of March 2011. AHS will also work with continuing care operators to determine interest in constructing new capacity without additional grant funding.
“We have already committed to opening more than 1,000 new continuing care spaces each year for the next three years, and we believe we can open more and have set a new target of 1,373 beds for this year,” said Dr. Stephen Duckett, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Health Services. “More continuing care beds will provide relief within acute care hospitals where patients are waiting for placement.” AHS has already added 815 continuing care spaces since April 1, 2010.
AHS will introduce new processes to make hospital discharges more efficient and timely. These processes will help physicians, staff, patients and their families work together to plan for hospital discharge much earlier; in fact starting at the time of admission, or for elective admissions, before admission. Not only will this contribute to the optimal use of hospital beds, it will help patients know what to expect, including how and when to become part of their own care planning.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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