August 11, 2023
FORT McMURRAY — Northern Albertans now have improved access to hip and knee surgeries with the opening of a new surgical program at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.
Launched last month, the program is made possible, in part, through the recruitment of two orthopedic surgeons. Fort McMurray joins Hinton, Bonnyville, Grande Prairie and Westlock in the Alberta Health Services (AHS) North Zone offering these surgeries.
“Providing increased access to hip and knee surgery for residents in northern Alberta and Fort McMurray region is made possible with funding from the Alberta Surgical Initiative,” says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health. “Through this initiative, we continue working towards ensuring all Albertans get their surgeries within clinically appropriate wait times.”
Launched by AHS and Alberta Health in 2019, the Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI) is focused on reducing surgical wait times for Albertans.
“This is exciting and welcome news for the community,” says Brian Jean, MLA for Fort McMurray- Lac La Biche and Minister of Energy and Minerals. “Our government is committed to reducing surgical wait times and approaches like this will help deliver on that promise,”
“I’m incredibly pleased to see this new surgical program launch in Fort McMurray,” adds Tany Yao, MLA for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. “I’d like to thank all the staff at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre for making this program possible.”
Up to 32 local hip and knee surgeries are expected to be performed each month by late this year.
“This has been a big team effort and it’s very exciting for us,” says Jordanna Lambert, the AHS Senior Operating Officer for the area. “Many AHS teams, staff, physicians and surgeons worked hard to make this surgical program a reality. We’re very pleased to offer this service.”
Dr. Fauzia Haq Nawaz, Facility Medical Director for Northern Lights Regional Health Centre and Willow Square Continuing Care Centre, says providing local residents with hip and knee surgeries faster, as close to home as possible, has been a priority for AHS.
“This is a huge accomplishment,” she says. “I know our strong and skilled physician and surgical team are excited and eager to offer these surgeries to patients.”
Gerald Ramsay became the program’s first patient when he had hip replacement surgery on July 4. He was discharged the next day. The surgery was performed by Dr. Mansour Abolghasemian.
“My care experience was exceptional,” says Ramsay. “The physician and staff were all so professional and kind. They really made it a comfortable experience for me. I’m thankful I was able to have the surgery done here in Fort McMurray. I already feel I have more mobility and less pain, and I’m walking and exercising regularly.”
Planning for the local surgery program involved the recruitment of orthopedic surgeons and staff, the purchasing of equipment, and collaboration with the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute, Edmonton Bone and Joint Clinic, AHS North Zone facilities, patient advisors, and primary are staff and physicians.
Through the strategies under the ASI, AHS continues to increase surgical activity in the province to get Albertans the surgical care they need within clinically recommended wait times.
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. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
