Task force to develop Beaverlodge community health care plan

BEAVERLODGE – A joint task force with members from Beaverlodge, including leadership from the Town of Beaverlodge, and Alberta Health Services (AHS) will spend the next several weeks finalizing a plan for health care in the community.

The task force will build on previous input from the community and will refresh recommendations for future infrastructure needs as well as community based programs and services. The recommendations will be shared with Alberta Health.

The formation of the task force is the result of discussions held with community representatives, including the mayor of Beaverlodge, and AHS over the past several months.

“I want to thank Mayor Leona Hanson, business and community leaders, and local physicians and staff for their continued partnership with AHS in the finalization of the go-forward plan for health care in the community,” said Dr. Verna Yiu, AHS President and CEO. “There was an incredible amount of previous work put into this planning so the intent is to build on what has been developed to date and to use this information with local community members to establish this final plan.”

Beginning next week, the task force will review an updated version of the 2013 report that had assessed the health needs of the community and surrounding population, and then propose next steps for ensuring that the programs, services and infrastructure in Beaverlodge address current and future needs.

Renovations currently planned for the Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital will continue. Those building improvements, valued at more than $2.5 million, include renovations to address flood damage, and replacement of the roof, nurse call system, fire alarms and security system. It is important to keep the building maintained and functioning while plans for the future are being finalized.

“The creation of the task force is a positive step forward in making sure that we have the health services we need here in Beaverlodge and the West County," said Mayor Hanson. "We look forward to the continued support from our neighbouring municipal leaders, including the County of Grande Prairie, as we work together to help move this essential project forward. This is a vibrant community and we believe that we can help establish a model for rural health care facilities and programs across the province.”

The task force will make its recommendations to AHS and Alberta Health by September 30th, 2016.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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