Choosing the right approach

Alberta is refocusing the health care system to put the patient first in every health care decision and give experts the right space to ensure Albertans are getting the world-class health care they need and deserve.

Logo with text: "Primary Care Alberta" next to an illustration of a dotted heart around a person with a circle head and heart-shaped body

Primary Care Alberta

Logo with text "Acute Care Alberta" next to an illustration of a doctor: circle over a heart with a stethoscope

Acute Care Alberta

Assisted Living Alberta logo: Abstract illustration of 3 people next to text: "Assisted Living Alberta"

Assisted Living Alberta

Recovery Alberta logo: Half dotted circle illustration next to text: "Recovery Alberta Mental Health and Addiction Services"

Recovery Alberta

Refocusing groundwork

The following activities laid the groundwork for the best path to achieve our goal of improving access to health care.

Similar themes and recommendations emerged from these activities allowing us to establish a new model guided by the following health agencies:

Transition and engagement timeline

  • Summer 2025 to Winter 2025
    • Assisted Living Alberta became fully operational on September 1, 2025.
    • Cancer Care Alberta, Give Life Alberta and the emergency health services provincial health corporation became fully operational on September 1, 2025.
    • Health Shared Services became operational on November 1, 2025.
    • Fourteen regional advisory councils have been established, and work continues to establish an Indigenous Advisory Council.
    • The 'Lead the Way What We Heard' report was released, summarizing the comprehensive feedback and ideas heard during the second round of engagement from over 2,000 patients, families, caregivers and health care workers from across Alberta.
  • Winter 2024 to Spring 2025
    • A second round of in-person public engagements was held.
    • Primary Care Alberta became fully operational on February 1, 2025.
    • Acute Care Alberta became fully operational on April 1, 2025.
    • Assisted Living and Social Services hosted stakeholder engagements in spring 2025.
  • Summer 2024 to Fall 2024
    • Engagement with Albertans, health care professionals and a wide range of health partners across the province continued.
    • The 'Shape the Way What We Heard' report was released, summarizing the comprehensive feedback and ideas from over 30,000 patients, families, caregivers, and health care workers from across Alberta.
    • The Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence (CoRE) was established and became operational in June 2024.
    • Recovery Alberta became fully operational on September 1, 2024.
  • Winter 2023 to Spring 2024
    • The health care refocusing plan is introduced to Albertans and front-line health care workers.
    • A new Alberta Health Services board is appointed.
    • Engagement sessions with AHS staff, health care unions, health associations and a wide range of health partners across the province began.
    • Comprehensive public engagement including in-person, French-language and Indigenous sessions, online feedback forms, telephone town halls and a question and answer tool.
    • Recruitment opened for new regional and Indigenous advisory councils.

Guiding principles

A single-functioning health care system
With specialized areas that focus on delivering the best care that is important to a high functioning system.

Improve patient outcomes
Refocus the health care system so Albertans can get the right care when and where they need it.

Ensure a seamless patient journey
Strong integration and collaboration across all organizations to support appropriate transitions of care and prevent silos.

Support the workforce
Prioritize the wellbeing and leverage the experience of health care workers.

Enhance frontline and local autonomy
Support local decision-making and regional advice.

Transparent communication
Communicate frequently and clearly.

Remain committed, but flexible
Monitor and evaluate the progress of the change and support change when it might be required.