September 14, 2022
NORTH ZONE – Patients listed on surgical waitlists in the North Zone of Alberta Health Services (AHS) can expect an automated phone call or voicemail as part of an initiative to update surgical waitlists.
Over the next few months, patients listed for surgery with plastic, vascular, orthopedic, ear/nose/throat (ENT) and otolaryngology surgeons in the North Zone will receive an automated phone call or voicemail from the AHS Surgery Waitlist Management Team.
As part of the process to confirm waitlist status, AHS’ team will ask for the patient’s birthdate to confirm their identity.
Patients who hang up or do not call the number back will not see their position on the waitlist affected. The Surgery Waitlist Management Team will call and speak with all of these patients about their waitlist status.
Patients are reminded AHS will never ask for financial information or for any personal information other than your provincial personal health number or birthdate during these automated calls. If the phone call or voicemail asks for additional information, such as a social insurance number or banking information, do not provide that information or return the call.
More information and a full script of the automated call is available on the AHS website www.ahs.ca/waitlist.
This initiative is part of AHS’ surgical recovery plan, which includes other strategies to reduce waitlists for non-urgent scheduled surgeries. Through this initiative, AHS is contacting up to 350 patients per day. The first phase of this pilot in the Edmonton Zone reduced the surgical waitlist in the pilot departments by 5.6 per cent.
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.
