Amazing Together Every Day
AHS recognizes that our work takes place on historical and contemporary Indigenous lands, including the territories of Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and Treaty 8, and the homeland of the Métis Nation of Alberta and eight Métis Settlements. We also acknowledge the many Indigenous communities that have been forged in urban centres across Alberta.
April 11, 2025
Refocusing acute care funding in Alberta
Currently, the healthcare system is primarily funded by a single grant made to Alberta Health Services to deliver health care across the province. This grant has grown by $3.4 billion since 2018-19 and, although Alberta performed about 20,000 more surgeries this past year than at that time, this is not good enough. Albertans deserve surgical wait times that don’t just marginally improve but meet the medically recommended wait times for every single patient.
With Acute Care Alberta now fully operational, Alberta’s government is implementing reforms to acute care funding through a patient-focused funding (PFF) model, also known as activity-based funding, which pays hospitals based on the services they provide. Read more.
Advancing cancer care and organ tissue services
The province is ensuring key healthcare services are well supported within the new refocused healthcare system. Significant progress has been made to achieve the goal of providing better care to all Albertans no matter where they live. Three of the four provincial health agencies are now operational: Primary Care Alberta, Acute Care Alberta and Recovery Alberta. Assisted Living Alberta will be operational later this year.
As work continues to transition AHS to a hospital-based service provider under the oversight of Acute Care Alberta, the province is taking additional steps to ensure Alberta’s healthcare system has the proper oversight in place to support the newly formed integrated system. Read more.
What we heard from the 2024 Our People Survey results
In November, we asked how you were doing and how we could support you. Here’s what we heard:
We know there are many things to work on and areas for improvement to address the issues facing healthcare teams. Your feedback provides valuable insights into what's working well and where we can grow together. As we get closer to transitioning AHS to a hospital-based service delivery provider, we look forward to more conversations about how we can make changes and improvements, together.
Leaders are asked to share and discuss Our People Survey results with their teams. Learn more and find resources on Insite. Questions? E-mail engage@ahs.ca.
Attend a drop-in session focused on patient experience
If you’re interested in improving the patient experience in your area, but aren’t quite sure where to start, AHS’ Engagement & Patient Experience (EPE) team invites you to Xchange. This is a monthly drop-in virtual session where you can connect with colleagues, learn about work happening across the province, share ideas and resources, and seek advice and support from your peers and EPE consultants.
Register to attend a session that works for you. The next two are on April 16 and May 14 at 9 a.m. Questions? Email patient.engagement@ahs.ca.
New hygiene campaign launches: Your Health is in Your Hands
Starting today, Alberta Health Services (AHS) is launching a new hand-hygiene campaign: Your Health is in Your Hands. This message — and others such as Their Health is in Your Hands and Our Health is in Our Hands — encourages everyone to take shared responsibility for health and safety through proper handwashing.
Created by Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and AHS Communications, with input from staff, the campaign includes fresh, easy-to-recognize materials designed for all who work in, visit, or receive care at AHS facilities.
Nearly 13,000 posters, signs, and resources are being delivered across Alberta this month and will be shared with partners including Alberta Precision Laboratories, Covenant Health and Primary Care Alberta. Thank you to all staff. Your daily actions make a big difference in protecting patients, families, and coworkers.
Materials can also be downloaded or ordered.
Prehabilitation program expands referrals provincewide
More Albertans scheduled for surgery will now have access to an AHS prehabilitation program that prepares them for the procedure in an effort to improve outcomes and patient experiences.
Prehabilitation (or prehab) was launched at Edmonton hospitals in December 2023. Over the past year, the program has expanded to become a provincially coordinated service. Albertans undergoing procedures at any AHS surgical facility or chartered surgical facility are eligible to be referred to the program by their surgeon or healthcare provider. Patient self-referrals are also accepted.
“Prehab is supported by research and is considered emerging best practice, with a focus on reducing surgical risk and improving the patient’s surgical journey,” says Elaine Finseth, Associate Chief Allied Health Officer, AHS.
The program offers medical, emotional, physical and practical supports, and helps Albertans proactively prepare for surgery in four areas. Read more.
At a loss for words… speech-language pathology team helps Tara. (more...)
Students dress for success with a little help from their AHS friends. (more...)
Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation announces 2025 Champion for ACH
Ely loves to sing and dance. It’s hard to believe there was a time when her parents couldn’t hear her laugh.
And as the 2025 Champion for the Alberta Children’s Hospital, part of the Children’s Miracle Network Champions program, she will help celebrate life-saving, life-changing care our hospital and support from our community makes possible for kids like her.
Ely was born with a basal encephalocele, an obstructive mass of tissue and fluid in her nasal cavity that was making it difficult for her to breathe. At just six days old, she was admitted to the Edwards Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Due to her fragile size and state, surgery to remove the mass would need to wait until Ely was bigger and stronger. However, she would need intervention to help her breathe. So, at 29 days old, she received a tracheostomy. Read more.
Bed-bound patients gain mobility after Windy Slopes Health Foundation buys a Broda Chair
Thanks to generous donations in the community, Windy Slopes Health Foundation was able to purchase a Broda Chair for the Pincher Creek Health Centre.
The Broda Chair allows movement outside rooms for bed-bound patients, and it is also used to offload pressure for patients who are suffering from pressure sores. This chair accommodates patients up to 350 pounds and it can recline and tilt. Read more about the Windy Slope Health Foundation.
Go Baby Go: Adaptive toy car brings pediatric patients joy
New transition unit to open at QEII Ambulatory Care Centre
Alberta Health Services (AHS) is adding a new 19-bed inpatient transition unit at the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Ambulatory Care Centre.
These lower-acuity beds are intended as a temporary care setting for patients who no longer require acute care or are awaiting a continuing care home space. They are often referred to as Alternate Level of Care, or ALC, beds. These beds are expected to open to patients later this month and will free up acute care capacity at Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, particularly during the busy respiratory illness season.
Patients in the transition unit will receive care from registered nurses, healthcare aides and physicians, as well as from healthcare professionals in rehabilitation, pharmacy, or social work, depending on their needs.
“They may not require traditional, acute-level hospital care but they could benefit from more time to recover or additional supports to safely return home,” says Candice Edey, AHS Senior Operating Officer for Grande Prairie. Read more.
Colin Zieber garners 2025 Celebrating the Human Spirit Award
The Canadian College of Health Leaders is proud to announce that Colin Zieber, senior operating officer at Alberta Health Services South Zone, has been awarded the 2025 Celebrating the Human Spirit Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the healthcare community, particularly in support of Indigenous patients and families. Read more.
