Being a province wide integrated healthcare system allows us to share information, work seamlessly and provide standardized care to Albertans.
AHS and its many health service delivery partners, including Covenant Health, work together to deliver high-quality healthcare across this province as well as to some residents of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.
In 2019-20, AHS was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Alberta’s Top 75 Employers, and Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for the third year in a row, and also received repeat recognition for being one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. Throughout AHS, people are working together to create a culture where everyone feels safe, healthy, valued, and included, with opportunities to reach their full potential.
Alberta has urban, rural, and remote populations. Certain geographical areas within our province are home to unique populations and health needs requiring tailored approaches to healthcare delivery.
Virtual health connects patients/families and care providers separated by physical distance using virtual innovations and technology. Last year, Virtual Health supported more than 61,000 virtual connections, which enabled Albertans in remote and rural locations to avoid unnecessary travel.
AHS has more than 103,000 direct AHS employees (excluding Covenant Health and other contracted health service providers), more than 130 midwives, and almost 11,800 staff working in AHS’ wholly-owned subsidiaries, such as Carewest, CapitalCare Group, and Alberta Precision Laboratories.
AHS is supported by more than 10,800 practicing physicians, approximately 8,200 of whom are members of the AHS medical staff (physicians, dentists, podiatrists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons).
Volunteers are a central part of building environments that support patient- and family-centred care. AHS’ nearly 15,100 volunteers (which includes over 1,570 patient and family advisors) contributed over 1.2 million volunteer hours this past year to help keep Albertans safe and healthy. Among their many contributions, volunteers manage patient visits, give input as advisory council members to improve the quality and safety of healthcare, play wayfinding roles, and tend our retail shops to raise funds.
Students from Alberta’s universities and colleges, as well as from educational institutions outside of Alberta, receive clinical education in AHS facilities and community locations
As of March 31, 2020 there were 106 acute care hospitals and five standalone psychiatric facilities; 8,515 acute care beds; 472 sub- acute care beds; 27,774 continuing care beds/spaces (15,665 long- term care beds, 11,853 designated supportive living beds, and 256 community palliative and hospice beds/spaces), and 2,785 addiction and mental health beds/spaces. This is a total of 39,546 AHS operated and contracted beds in service.
Programs and services are offered at more than 850 facilities throughout the province, including hospitals, continuing care facilities (including long-term care, designated supportive living, community palliative and hospice, and contracted care sites), cancer centres, addiction and mental health facilities, and community ambulatory care centres. All facilities and programs are operated in compliance with specific sections of program legislation.
The graphic below depicts how Alberta’s population is, and will continue, growing and changing.
