AHS Update

Amazing Together Every Day

Alberta Health Services (AHS) recognizes 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 Metis Settlements. AHS also acknowledges the many Indigenous communities that have been forged in urban centres across Alberta.

Acute Care Action Plan unveiled, map your future with Career Pathways, see new resources to feel psychologically safe

November 21, 2025

Latest News

Acute Care Action Plan to improve flow

The province says the Acute Care Action Plan will add over 1,000 new hospital beds, deliver 50,000 more surgeries, improve capacity. It will strengthen emergency, surgical and inpatient care by increasing capacity and improving patient flow. To support this work, Alberta’s government is making targeted investments that will benefit patients immediately, including:

  • Capital planning to add more than 1,000 new acute care beds in Edmonton and Calgary, including new bed towers at Grey Nuns, Misericordia, and South Health Campus hospitals, relieving pressure and supporting patients with serious medical needs.
  • Delivering 50,000 additional surgical procedures over the next three years by leveraging chartered surgical facilities to expand operating room capacity, to reduce surgical wait times.
  • Targeted investments at the Royal Alexandra Hospital to enhance triage, speed up patient flow and help patients move efficiently through the system.

While immediate relief is a priority, the Acute Care Action Plan also lays the foundation for long-term improvements. (more...)

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Register now for Career Pathways learning sessions

Your career is not always a linear journey, so planning it shouldn’t be either. These upcoming Career Pathways learning sessions can help:

  • Career Anchors: Dec. 2, from 2-3 p.m.
  • Developing Your Career, Creating Your Future: Dec. 17, from 9-10 a.m.

For course details and registrations, visit MyLearningLink.

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See new resources to address psychosocial hazards

Workers and leaders share a responsibility to identify, report, manage and prevent harm from psychosocial hazards — aspects of work that can negatively impact mental health including how work is organized, social factors and aspects of the work environment.

When someone shares they don’t feel psychologically safe, believe and respect their experience, connect them with supports, and work together to prevent further harm.

Use these resources to learn more:

Questions? Contact psychologicalhealthsafety@ahs.ca.

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Redesign of AHS external website underway

Alberta Health Services (AHS) will launch its updated external website homepage at ahs.ca on Dec. 2. It will better reflect AHS’ new mandate, improve searches and offer easy navigation to the websites of the four new Public Health Agencies (PHAs).

Staff, health professionals and Albertans helped shape our new design through engagement opportunities. As our digital strategy evolves, so will our websites. In the first phase of this work, all subpages on ahs.ca will remain unchanged. In time, however, there will be a complete redesign and re-architecture of the entire AHS site.

We welcome your feedback. Email questions or ideas to info@ahs.ca.

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Toys for Tickets returns to spread holiday cheer

Parking Services across Alberta’s health agencies are once again turning parking tickets into acts of kindness this holiday season.

From Nov. 17 to Dec. 19, Alberta Health Services, Primary Care Alberta, Acute Care Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta and Recovery Alberta will accept new, unwrapped toys in lieu of payment for eligible parking tickets. The initiative helps brighten the holidays for children and families across the province.

Eligible tickets must have been issued between Nov. 7 and Dec. 19. Donated toys should be new, in original packaging, suitable for children ages newborn to 17, and valued at $25 or more.

Toys can be dropped off at any participating parking office during business hours. All donations will be shared with hospitals and local charities, helping spread warmth and joy to those who need it most this season.

For more information, visit ahs.ca/toysfortickets.

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Review payroll separation FAQs

On Dec. 22, Acute Care Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, and Recovery Alberta will be established as separate employers from AHS in the HR and payroll system, e-People. This is the final step in setting up these provincial health agencies as distinct employers.

If you are an employee of these organizations, this change will not affect your day-to-day work. However, this change will have administrative impacts for some employees.

There are detailed FAQs that address these impacts available; review the FAQ for your union/employee group to learn more.

Our goal is to provide a seamless transition and ensure all staff are aware of the changes they may experience while navigating e-People after the payroll separation.

The payroll separation date for the remaining provincial health agencies and provincial health corporations has not been set. We will communicate this date with staff once it’s confirmed.

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Health care aide (HCA) status renewal required by Nov. 30

The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) has been working to develop regulations for Health Care Aides (HCAs) effective Feb. 2, 2026. We will share more information as it becomes available.

In the meantime, please remind HCAs to maintain active HCA Directory status (a condition of employment) and renew by Nov. 30.

Once the regulation takes effect:

  • HCAs will need to meet approved education requirements, standards of practice, ongoing learning, and a professional code of ethics.
  • The CLPNA will become responsible for the regulation of both LPNs and HCAs, under its new name: College of Licensed Practical Nurses and HCAs of Alberta (CLHA).
  • The HCA Directory will become the HCA Registry.
  • HCAs enrolled and active on the Directory will be transferred to the Registry and issued a CLHA practice permit.

More information can be found on the CLHA website.

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Get to know your Employee and Family Assistance Program

Your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is here to support you and your immediate family members navigate everyday life events. The program offers counselling, lifestyle and specialty coaching, online learning through Homeweb — all tailored to meet your needs.

To learn more about EFAP:

To get started, contact the EFAP intake line at 1-877-273-3134. This service is free, flexible, confidential and available 24/7. Physicians can contact the AMA Physician and Family Support Program, a confidential 24/7 support line at 1-877-SOS-4MDS.

Questions? Contact wellness@ahs.ca.

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Discover the latest in Antimicrobial Stewardship

AHS’ Antimicrobial Stewardship is proud to launch the Antimicrobial Stewardship Matters newsletter to mark World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (Nov. 18–24).

This latest resource features brief, evidence-based, locally tailored guidance to help prescribers optimize antimicrobial use and manage infections, while continuing the commitment to raising awareness about antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial Stewardship aims to improve the appropriateness of antimicrobial use within AHS by measuring antimicrobial utilization, reviewing and optimizing antimicrobial prescriptions and offering prescriber education to align with best practices.

Questions? Email ahs.antimicrobialstewardship@ahs.ca or visit Antimicrobial Stewardship for more information.

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Review new policy on access for religious care providers

The new Community Spiritual and Religious Care Providers Access Policy supports patient access to spiritual and religious care providers which is essential at end of life and other critical phases of the health journey, including during an outbreak or emergency/disaster.

The policy outlines the process by which patients consent to be supported by a religious community visitor, direction on printing the patient religion list, and guidance regarding the use of spiritual space.

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Need to Know

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Feature Stories

 

Giving that heals (more...)

 

New Patient and Family Centred Care course brings many benefits

Staff, physicians and volunteers can enhance care through collaboration and compassion. (more...)

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Work Safe Blogs

  • Keeping up with your seasonal immunizations matters because our immune system needs reminders of how to fight these viruses. (more...)
  • The positive impact of psychological health and safety helped me find a work-life balance. (more...)
  • This Remembrance Day, my mind wandered back to the soldier who gave me the training to build a career around writing. (more...)

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News In Your Zone

 

Community health centre renamed in honour of Marshall Eliuk (more...)

 

Personalized mental health treatment coming for kids

Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute to offer free pharmacogenetic testing. (more...)

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Claresholm boosts comfort for home care patients

Having access to a bladder scanner at home means faster care, fewer hospital visits. (more...)

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