October 18, 2024
October 18, 2024
Updates on Primary Care and Continuing Care provincial health agencies
Revisit my updates related to the new Primary Care Provincial Health Agency and Continuing Care Provincial Health Agency. (more...)
World-class cancer facility opening in Calgary
AHS leadership joined Premier Danielle Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange yesterday to formally cut the ribbon on the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. (more...)
Be Heard: Our People Survey starts Nov. 4
Our People Survey begins Nov. 4 and runs until Nov. 24. Have your voice heard. It takes about five minutes and is anonymous. (more...)
Enhance your well-being with online supports
Your Employee and Family Assistance Program includes access to Sentio, an online cognitive behavioural therapy for depression and anxiety. (more...)
Save lives, immunize
Seasonal immunizations are available at Workplace Health and Safety clinics, or at your local pharmacy and public health clinics. (more...)
Review our masking directive
Be familiar with our enhanced masking directive, which aims to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses within acute care facilities. (more...)
Return unused and excess IT hardware
Employees are required to return AHS-provided IT equipment when transferring positions, leaving AHS or starting a leave of absence. (more...)
Changes coming to Microsoft applications
Over the next year, staff who share computers will switch to the web-only versions of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word. (more...)
Learn about cross-cultural dynamics in end-of-life decision-making
Join the Ethics Lunch ‘n’ Learn session about cross-cultural dynamics in end-of-life decision-making on Oct. 24 or Oct. 25. (more...)
Take part in Virtual Health highlights webinars
Three new webinars explore Collaborative Virtual Care: Driving Impact and Innovation Across AHS. (more...)
Wainwright nursing program to welcome new students
Applications have opened for a 2025 intake of students interested in becoming registered nurses through a local program. (more...)
Enter the Halloween costume and decorating contest by Oct. 31
Enter the Halloween costume and decorating contest by submitting a photo of your costume/decorations by Oct. 31. (more...)
Registration for the i4 2024 conference closes Nov. 1
On Nov. 6 & 7, the i4 conference will bring together collaborators to help you to design the future of healthcare. Join us. (more...)
October 18, 2024
Earlier this week, I shared updates related to the new Primary Care Provincial Health Agency and Continuing Care Provincial Health Agency. The former will become operational this fall; the latter will be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services.
For additional details, you can see my updates on the Primary Care Provincial Health Agency here, and on the Continuing Care Provincial Health Agency here.
I will continue to share with you information and updates about healthcare refocusing efforts as they become available. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Athana Mentzelopoulos
AHS President & CEO
AHS leadership joined Premier Danielle Smith, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange and other dignitaries yesterday to formally cut the ribbon on the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Arthur Child will open in phases, starting after Oct. 28, bringing a new era of cancer care to Albertans.
Designed together with patients and families, the $1.4-billion, 120,000-sq.m facility has 160 inpatient rooms and more than 90 chemotherapy chairs and 12 radiation therapy vaults, making it one of the largest comprehensive cancer centres in the world. Integrated research through the cancer care continuum will further optimize care with a focus on prevention, early detection, precision medicine and psychosocial care.
Be heard! Our People Survey is coming Nov. 4-24 for everyone at AHS, Alberta Precision Laboratories and Recovery Alberta.
The more people who participate, the more representative the results will be. It takes about five minutes and is completely anonymous.
On Nov. 4, check your inbox for a survey invitation from Gallup, the organization which conducts Our People Survey on our behalf. Our IT external email warning will pop up but this is an approved email and safe to open.
Based on your feedback, this year we have open text questions so you can share your thoughts in more detail. There are no additional costs for conducting this year’s Our People Survey.
Learn more. Questions? Contact engage@ahs.ca.
Your Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP) includes access to Sentio, an online cognitive behavioural therapy for mild to moderate depression and anxiety. It includes more than 20 treatment goals.
To access Sentio, create an account on homeweb.ca. You will be asked to complete a short online self-assessment to customize your care path and choose treatment goals based on your needs and interests.
EFAP is a free, flexible and confidential service that’s available 24/7. It also provides counselling and coaching supports for a variety of life balance and health issues. Contact EFAP at 1-877-273-3134.
Physicians can contact the AMA Physician and Family Support Program, also a confidential 24/7 support line, at 1-877-SOS-4MDS.
Questions? Contact wellness@ahs.ca.
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) seasonal immunization (influenza and COVID-19) clinics are open for walk-ins and appointments. Here are ways to get immunized:
You also have the option to receive an mRNA KP.2 COVID-19 vaccine at participating WHS clinics. If you have a copy of your last COVID-19 immunization records, please bring them with you to your appointment.
Albertans can also choose to get immunized in the community. Those aged five and older can get immunized at a local pharmacy, and AHS public health clinics are taking appointments, particularly for children under the age of five and their families. Visit ahs.ca/vaccine to book and for more information. And remember: if you choose any of these options for your own immunization, please submit a Got My Flu Shot form to support outbreak management efforts.
Questions? See Seasonal Immunization for Workers.
Our enhanced masking directive aims to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses within acute care facilities, emergency departments, urgent care centres and advanced ambulatory care centres.
It outlines factors to consider, and empowers zone and site leadership to decide if enhanced masking for staff, physicians, midwives, students, volunteers and contracted providers is necessary in areas where patient contact could occur.
For more information and additional resources, please see Enhanced Masking at AHS Sites or check out this FAQ. Also see our Attendance at Work and Respiratory Virus Symptoms Policy.
Employees are required to return AHS-provided IT equipment (e.g. laptops and monitors) when transferring positions, leaving the organization or starting a leave of absence of at least 90 days.
As well, the AHS Computer Assignment Standard allows for one computer per employee, if an employee requires an individually assigned computer for work (rather than a shared computer).
Please work with your manager to return your AHS-provided IT equipment if required.
Returning devices to IT helps uphold information security standards, saves costs by avoiding unused warranties and software licenses, and allows devices to be reassigned to other employees.
AHS is modernizing our use of Microsoft technologies to save costs, and ensure future reliability and security.
Over the next year, staff who only use shared computers will switch to the web-only versions of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word. The desktop applications will become read-only and you will use the web apps for editing and collaboration. If affected, you will receive an email from IT before the switch.
Microsoft web apps work differently than traditional desktop apps, and some functions and processes will not be available. The easiest way to access Microsoft web apps and create new files is through the Microsoft365 landing page.
Staff using a computer assigned only to them will continue to have access to the both the desktop and web versions of Microsoft apps.
The Ethics Lunch ‘n’ Learn Series explores common healthcare issues, identifies ethical concerns at play, and provides an ethical framework for thinking them through.
Join the next session, Cross-cultural Dynamics in End-of-Life Decision-Making:
Discover more sessions in the series.
AHS’ Virtual Health Team is gearing up for Virtual Health Highlights 2024. This year’s theme is Collaborative Virtual Care: Driving Impact and Innovation Across AHS. The webinars showcase the benefits of the Virtual Health team, clinical and technical programs working together to achieve positive impact for patients, providers and the organization.
Celebrate Digital Health Week (Nov. 18-22) and the many successes in virtual care delivery during the three upcoming Zoom panel presentations. Each panel will include a discussion and Q&A.
Register now for one or more of our sessions:
Applications have opened for a September 2025 intake of students interested in becoming registered nurses through a local Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
The degree program is a partnership between AHS, the University of Calgary (UCalgary) and Wainwright Economic Development. Six students who joined the program when it launched in 2021 are expected to graduate in the spring.
Students will complete 3.25 or 3.5 years of the registered nursing degree in Wainwright, with the program delivered by the Faculty of Nursing at UCalgary, and the classroom space provided by AHS at Wainwright Health Centre. Classes are delivered through a mix of virtual and online learning, as well as clinical and hands-on classes and labs.
The program aims to graduate local registered nurses who will pursue their healthcare careers in Wainwright and surrounding communities. Applications are open until March 1, 2025.
The annual Staff Halloween Costume and Decorated Space contest is back, so get ready to delight your co-workers. The contest is open to costumes worn while working from home and house decorations, along with the traditional site and office costumes and decorations.
To participate, send a photo of your costume or decorated workspace to our.ahs@ahs.ca (subject: Halloween 2024) by midnight on Oct. 31.
Finalists will be posted to Insite on Nov. 4 and staff will be invited to vote for their favourite entry. Winners will be announced Nov. 7.
More details, including general guidelines, are available.
At the intersection of people, community, relationships, and technology, the future of healthcare is being created. Societal advancement and technological innovation are driving this transformation. On Nov. 6 & 7, the i4 conference will bring together collaborators to help you to design the future of healthcare. Join us in shaping that future. There is still time to register. Learn more.
