Expanding surgery access in southern Alberta
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MEDICINE HAT, AB – The provincial government is trying to reduce some wait times for surgery by expanding contracts with chartered surgical facilities in southern and central Alberta.
AHS aims to schedule an additional 1,250 procedures ranging from hip and knee to general surgeries in the south zone including Medicine Hat by inviting chartered surgical facilities to submit proposals.
Having more orthopedic and other general surgeries performed in chartered facilities helps free up operating room space in hospitals for more complex surgeries.
Premier Jason Kenney says “albertans are waiting too long for hip and knee replacements and other types of surgeries. That’s why we are moving forward with our plan to deliver more surgeries closer to home.”
Alberta Health and AHS have been increasing surgical capacity in hospitals and the number of surgeries at chartered surgical facilities as part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative. Main operating room surgical suite hours have been increased at hospitals, which is steadily reducing the surgical wait-list. Budget 2022 provides $133 million over three years to expand and build new operating rooms in hospitals across the province, including in Calgary, Edmonton, Edson, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Rocky Mountain House.
