December 15, 2023
December 15, 2023
This AHS Update starts with gratitude to all of you for your hard work and dedication during this time of high demand in our urban and rural hospitals, including in our emergency departments and ICUs. It is a coordinated, provincial effort across all sites to ensure that we are able to care for all patients despite capacity pressures. (more...)
We are working to urgently address four key priorities. They are:
AHS also continues to work on improving local decision-making, and ensuring local teams and sites are supported. Much of this work is underway. This update will continue to highlight actions being taken to address our priorities.
Improving patient flow and continuity of care
New space for IV therapy treatment opens in Strathcona
Nurse practitioners added to Sylvan Lake ambulatory care service
Combat seasonal stress
Take care of your well-being this holiday season through support provided by the Employee and Family Assistance Program. (more...)
Mental Wellness Moment - Advice for having a healthy holiday season
Dr. Nicholas Mitchell talks about what people can do to have a healthy holiday season. (more...)
New President & CEO starts at Alberta Health Services
Athana Mentzelopoulos has been named AHS President and CEO, effective this past Monday. (more...)
Enjoy the holiday season
Enjoy this year’s holiday card from the AHS Executive Team and AHS Board. (more...)
Get and report your flu shot
With influenza activity and outbreaks on the rise, it’s important to get your flu shot and report it using the Got My Flu Shot form. (more...)
Family presence an important part of the holiday season
You’re encouraged to review AHS’ Family Presence policy suite so you’re familiar with the role of designated family/support persons. (more...)
Prepare for the new animal interactions policy
A new provincial policy, effective Jan. 8, provides direction on animal interactions, personal pet visits and qualified assistance dogs. (more...)
Increase understanding of human factors to enhance patient safety
Register for a three-day course to explore the role of human factors in healthcare using hands-on activities and case studies. (more...)
Learn about the AHS Virtual Care Evaluation Framework
If you use virtual care in your healthcare delivery, consider joining this webinar where the new virtual care framework will be discussed. (more...)
December 15, 2023
This AHS Update starts with gratitude to all of you for your hard work and dedication during this time of high demand in our urban and rural hospitals including in our emergency departments and ICUs. It is a coordinated, provincial effort across all sites to ensure that we are able to care for all patients despite capacity pressures.
AHS continues to have ICU capacity available to those who need that specialized level of care. In addition, AHS is able to add capacity when needed; 17 surge ICU beds have been added since Dec. 7.
AHS has multiple actions underway to support patient flow, including creating and reconfiguring beds and spaces where possible, increasing staffing, expediting patient moves to appropriate continuing care spaces, and working provincially to coordinate and support patient movement. We are also repatriating patients back to care facilities closer to their homes to free up space in our urban hospitals and, in some cases, are sending appropriate patients to rural facilities for care.
We recognize that decisions like this aren’t easy on families and their support systems, and they’re not easy on AHS staff and physicians, but these measures are required for us to continue to maintain capacity at our hospitals and deliver timely care to those who need it most.
Thank you for everything you do, especially during this challenging time.
AHS is working to urgently address four key priorities.
They are:
AHS also continues to work on improving local decision-making, and ensuring local teams and sites are supported. Much of this work is underway. This update will continue to highlight actions being taken to address our priorities.
New space for IV therapy treatment opens in Strathcona
A newly built space for the IV therapy clinic at the Strathcona Community Hospital has opened, improving access for this specialized treatment in Sherwood Park.
The new 900-sq.-ft. clinic is more than double the size of the previous space within the hospital, providing patients more privacy. More than 8,000 IV therapy treatments were provided at the hospital last year, and the need for this treatment is expected to grow.
IV therapy is a way to give fluids, medicine, or blood products directly into the bloodstream through a patient’s vein. The clinic, open seven days a week, helps ensure patients are receiving continuity of care and relieves pressure on other IV therapy clinics in Edmonton’s hospitals.
Nurse practitioners added to Sylvan Lake ambulatory care service
Two nurse practitioners have been added to the care team at the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service, as part of ongoing efforts to support the health and wellness of community residents.
The nurse practitioners are working alongside nursing staff to provide care and support to residents in much the same way as physicians now do. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced knowledge and skills who can provide health promotion and primary care through the diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses and chronic conditions.
In a community-based setting, such as this advanced ambulatory care service, they will perform comprehensive assessment and diagnosis (including the ordering and interpretation of tests), prescribe medications, and provide specialist referrals for patients of all ages.
Are you feeling the holiday stress? Explore resources from the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) to help you navigate this time of year:
If you need support with any issue, call the EFAP intake line at 1-877-273-3134. Physicians can contact the AMA Physician and Family Support Program, a confidential 24/7 support line, at 1-877-767-4637.
Questions? Contact wellness@ahs.ca.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for AHS Addiction and Mental Health — talks about what people can do to have a healthy holiday season and positive ways to focus on mental health heading into the new year.
Athana Mentzelopoulos has been named AHS President and CEO, effective this past Monday.
Mentzelopoulos has more than 25 years of public sector leadership experience. Most recently, she was the Executive Director of the Alberta Medical Association. Previously, she had served as Deputy Minister in various portfolios in both the Alberta and B.C. governments, and as EMS Provisional Lead and Advisor to the Official Administrator within AHS.
The holiday season is nearly here. A time to relax, rest and recharge—and a time to reflect on all the great work you’ve done this past year, and all the people you’ve helped.
Thank you so much for everything you do, every day and every night. We wish you a very happy holiday season, and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
With gratitude and appreciation,
The Executive Leadership Team and AHS Board.
As of Dec. 2, there are 38 influenza outbreaks in Alberta. It’s important to get and report your flu shot using the Got My Flu Shot form to support Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) in outbreak management, and identifying who is safe to continue working and who is eligible for antiviral prophylaxis (Tamiflu) during an outbreak.
This year’s flu shot is currently trending to be a good match for H1N1, the predominant strain of influenza circulating. Before you spend time with your loved ones, you can get immunized through pharmacies, some physicians’ offices and public health clinics (households with children under five).
Do you have feedback about influenza immunization? See this WHS survey.
See Employee Influenza Immunization for more information.
The holidays are an important time for patients and residents to be with the people who matter to them. It’s also a good time to remind staff about our Family Presence Policy Suite and AHS’ commitment to family presence. Designated family/support person(s) (DFSP) are not considered visitors and are welcome 24 hours a day.
Here are some ways you can support family presence during the holidays:
Family presence is important to patients, residents and families. Supporting these moments can make a vital difference to patient/resident experiences and outcomes.
Questions about Family Presence? Email patient.engagement@ahs.ca.
AHS welcomes animals into our facilities as we recognize the important role they can play in supporting patients, designated family/support persons and visitors. A new animal interactions provincial policy has been developed to support patient and family-centred care, and the health, safety and well-being of all involved. It will be effective Jan. 8, 2024.
This policy provides guidance on:
Resources to help you prepare:
Visit Insite to learn more. Questions? Email policy@ahs.ca.
Human factors studies the interrelationship between humans, the tools and equipment they use in the workplace, and the environment in which they work. During this three-day course — Jan. 29-31 in Calgary and Feb. 5-7 in Edmonton — the role of human factors in healthcare will be explored using hands-on activities and case studies in various clinical areas.
AHS is pleased to co-host this upcoming course with the Health Quality Council of Alberta, Ward of the 21st Century and the University of Calgary. Learn more.
Please join the Virtual Health team and special guests from Evaluation & Analytics, Primary Health Care Integration Network, for a webinar where we’ll introduce the AHS Virtual Care Evaluation Framework. This presentation will be useful for anyone in AHS wishing to evaluate virtual care services.
The webinar — Jan. 17 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — will provide an overview of why the framework was created, how it was developed and what’s included. The Virtual Health team will also be providing an update on the Virtual Care Shared Data Model, a shared virtual care data repository in the Enterprise Data Warehouse. Register to attend.
