LAKELAND - Health care zones are being replaced by health care corridors in the latest part of the province’s reorganization of the health care system.
Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange gave a brief update and answered questions in a telephone town hall on Nov. 19. The change is about improving access, said LaGrange.
The change is being done to make sure “that we have facilities with the right core services in those facilities, as well as the right workforce in those areas, and making sure that Albertans get access to the services that they need when they need them,” said LaGrange.
According to the minister, the province looked closely at the demographics and travel patterns of the province when they were planning the health corridors.
The seven regional corridors will be North-West, North-East, Edmonton, Central, Calgary, South-West, and South-East. They will replace the current five zones in use by Alberta Health Services.
The Lakeland region, including St. Paul, Elk Point, Bonnyville, Cold Lake, and Lac La Biche are all currently part of the North Zone for Alberta Health Services. Going forward, they will be in the Edmonton Corridor. A map showing the boundaries of the new corridors is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
County of St. Paul Reeve Glen Ockerman said he is quite happy to see the province acknowledging some of the issues in a timely manner.
“I think they’ve identified where the shortfalls are and will be addressing them. I think for the ratepayers here in St. Paul, especially with having to travel so much, the province is listening and trying to address it,” said Ockerman.
Kara Westerlund, recently elected president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, said the new health corridors are an opportunity.
“Further regionalization of services, in addition to a focus on rural needs and representation, will be essential to ensuring our communities get access to the care they need,” said Westerlund.
As part of what the government calls a refocusing of health care in the province, care is also being split into four categories run by independent but integrated agencies.
Primary Care Alberta became a legal entity on Monday. Once the transition is complete, PCA will be responsible for co-ordinating and delivering primary health care across the province.
Acute Care Alberta will begin operating in spring of 2025. According to LaGrange no job losses to frontline health care workers are expected from the transition.
Addictions and mental health
Recovery Alberta provides mental health and addictions services, although during the discussion the CEO of Recovery Alberta, Kerry Bales, said a substantial amount of support is coming from community providers and municipal programs.
“What we want to do is we want to work with all of them to make sure that there's a clear understanding of what the role of recovery Alberta is, which is generally speaking, to focus more on primarily, highly intensive services, that includes both community and inpatient services, and in some areas where there may not be other opportunities for service provision,” said Bales.
He said work and engagement is already underway with existing contractors and community partners.
Changes to funding coming
Another concern raised during the town hall was how comprehensive, team-based care would be provided.
Primary Care Alberta CEO Kim Simmons said in the short-term, they are working with all their providers to develop common goals, starting with having happy patients and happy providers.
“As we move forward, and we look at best practices from around the world, we know that different finance structures exist, and there's opportunity to change both the governance and the funding system for primary care, and that's a more long-term goal,” said Simmons.
Two further telephone engagement sessions are planned for later this month on Nov. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Nov. 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., with additional in-person sessions expected in the new year. Feedback can also be submitted online until Dec. 5.
