Right Care Alberta is about helping patients, families, and healthcare providers choose evidence-based care that is appropriate, effective, and sustainable.
Right Care Alberta is focused on building relationships between patients and providers, increasing trust, and giving patients a bigger voice and choice in their care.
If you are a patient or family member, see Right Care Alberta – Information for Patients & Families.
Evidence Based - Patients can trust that their healthcare providers’ recommendations are based on knowledge, safety and best practices.
Necessary - Not all tests and treatments work for every patient. By staying focused on individual patient needs, we can ensure resources are there for those who really need them.
Person-Centred - Every care experience is unique and requires listening and learning. That’s why every decision that involves treatments and tests is based on the patient voice and values.
Safe - Care focuses on collaborating as a healthcare team to determine what is best for patients, based on clinical evidence and expertise.
Respectful - Each patient’s voice and values play an important role in their care journey.
Clinicians and healthcare providers are critical partners in the Right Care Alberta approach through active participation in Shared Decision Making, Clinical Appropriateness, and Addressing Unwarranted Variation.
Shared Decision Making is defined as “collaboration between patients and providers, which considers patients' values and preferences alongside evidence to make the best decisions.” Reference: National Library of Medicine
Ultimately, anytime there are more than one evidence-based options for a health decision, including the option to do nothing, shared decision making between both the patient and provider will lead to the best possible outcomes. To be successful, shared decision making requires both patients and providers to have the awareness, desire, knowledge and resources to work together.
What does this Mean for You?
Your patients and their family are active members of the healthcare team and partner with you to choose which evidence-based options align best with their preferences and values.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has defined Appropriateness of Care as: “The right care provided by the right providers, to the right patient, in the right place, at the right time, resulting in optimal quality care." Really it is about only doing necessary and beneficial tests and treatments. Within AHS, the Improving Health Outcomes Together (IHOT) team works closely with partners across the health system to identify opportunities for enhancing clinical appropriateness.
The implementation of clinical appropriateness initiatives not only builds capacity in the health system by eliminating waste, but also help providers to deliver and patients to access high quality care leading to improved patient outcomes.
What does this Mean for You?
Your patients will have timely access to the tests and procedures that are needed and will not get held up waiting for things that are not needed.
Additional Resources
To find out more regarding the Right Care Alberta portfolio of initiatives being worked on in Alberta Health Services, to submit an idea for an opportunity, or to get involved email i.hot@ahs.ca.
