Health Minister Jason Copping announces a new contract with an orthopedic surgical provider in Calgary, January 23, 2023. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

New surgical operator aims to reduce wait times in Alberta

Jan 23, 2023 | 1:28 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Government of Alberta has announced the next step in its plan to reduce surgical wait times.

The province has signed a new contract with Canadian Surgery Solutions (CSS).

The private operator will aim to conduct more than 3,000 additional hip and knee replacements out of its facility in Calgary.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) Interim President and CEO Mauro Chies says public funding will be used under this agreement to improve access to surgical care.

“Our teams have been working hard to increase surgeries for Albertans, to bring down surgical wait times,” says Chies. “Working with vendors such as Canadian Surgery Solutions will help us with this goal. Thank you to our partners and all of the teams at AHS who are working together to make this happen.”

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In Calgary alone, the government says there are about 6,000 people who are waiting for orthopedic surgeries, more than half of whom are waiting longer than the clinically-appropriate timeframes for knee and hip replacements.

For Alberta overall, there are around 21,200 people on wait lists for orthopedic surgeries.

Health Minister Jason Copping says the new contract with CSS will result in approximately 21 per cent more orthopedic procedures being performed in the Calgary area compared to 2021-22.

“Albertans, many of whom are in pain, are waiting too long for life-changing knee and hip surgeries in Calgary,” says Copping. “Our Health Care Action Plan will accelerate adding more surgeries both at hospitals across Alberta and at chartered surgical facilities to bring down wait times to the waiting period recommended by medical experts.”

CSS recently began welcoming patients for overnight orthopedic surgeries at one of its facilities in Calgary. The second facility, at the Rockyview Surgical Centre, is currently undergoing renovations and is scheduled to to reopen in early 2023.

The Alberta Government has been partnering with more chartered surgical facilities across the province, who specialize in a variety of fields.

Last spring, Holy Cross Surgical Services and Vision Group Canada, in Calgary and Edmonton, began conducting cataract surgeries.

AHS also put out a request for proposals for surgery operators in both the South and Central Health Zones last fall.