Alberta Health Services will transition to Alberta Hospital Services as part of a restructuring of the health-care system in the province. The new organization will oversee the acute-care sector and work alongside primary care, continuing care, and mental health and addiction care. There will be four specific sectors within the organization with more government oversight. The government has assured that there will be no job losses for staff who transition to the new organizations. Each agency will have specific focuses, such as ensuring access to family doctors, reducing wait times in acute care, and expanding continuing care options. The mental health and addiction agency, Recovery Alberta, will be operational this summer, with other sectors following in the fall of 2024.
Many front-line workers are anxious about the restructuring, feeling that consultation with them could have prevented the need for a complete overhaul. Some are concerned that the division within the health system could worsen with the new structure. Dr. Paul Parks, president of the Alberta Medical Association, stresses the importance of all four organizations sharing the same privileges, bylaws, and policies in order to improve integration and avoid siloing. The Alberta NDP believes the change may lead to more private health care due to lack of transparency and accountability. However, the government believes the restructuring will ease pressure on the current system and allow for a focus on delivering the best acute care.
The government aims to have the restructuring completed by the end of the year, with legislation potentially passed by the end of May. Premier Danielle Smith emphasized the need for Alberta Hospital Services to prioritize emergent issues and deliver surgeries to improve the system. Dr. Parks supports the restructuring if it leads to improvements in the struggling health system. Around 10,000 front-line staff will transition to Recovery Alberta, according to Mental Health Minister Dan Williams. Registered nurse Adam Henley expresses concerns about the current division in the health system and the impact of the overhaul from a nursing perspective.
Overall, the restructuring of Alberta’s health-care system aims to streamline services, improve access to care, and enhance integration between different sectors. The transition to Alberta Hospital Services is part of a larger effort to address challenges in the current system and prioritize acute care delivery. The government’s plan is to have all four organizations sharing the same values and policies to avoid siloing and increased bureaucracy. While there are concerns about the potential for more private health care and lack of consultation with front-line workers, the government is optimistic that the restructuring will lead to positive outcomes for patients and the health system as a whole.
