COVID-19 Updates: Taking steps to return to normal.
- Public health restrictions: Alberta entered Step 2 on March 1.
- Book your vaccine: Albertans 5+ can get it now. Get third dose when eligible.
COVID-19 Updates: Taking steps to return to normal.
Albertans will have the best access to scheduled surgery in Canada by 2023 in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 has caused scheduled surgery backlogs across Canada. Early in the pandemic, Alberta Health Services (AHS) estimated Alberta would be facing a backlog of up to two years. Instead, Alberta has developed a plan to clear the backlog and will increase surgical activity volume to 150 per cent to meet the 2023 Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI) platform commitment of providing all scheduled surgery within clinically acceptable times.
Beginning March 18, all scheduled surgeries were put on hold until May 4. This resulted in a 60 per cent reduction in surgeries, leading to a backlog of about 25,000 surgeries. To date, 88 per cent of that surgical backlog has been eliminated.
“Our platform commitment to reduce surgical wait times will be met, pandemic or no pandemic. Reducing the backlog by 88 per cent is a good first step – but we will need to push even harder in the months to come. I am also incredibly honoured to announce an Indigenous funding grant stream that will open up the opportunity for First Nations communities to establish a chartered surgical facility on reserve.”
In order to meet wait time targets, new and existing chartered surgical facilities will also be significantly expanded to provide more publicly funded surgeries, leaving hospital operating rooms available to perform more complex surgeries.
This expansion is expected to occur in both urban and rural communities across the province as a request for proposals generates new contracts. A formal request for proposals (RFP) will be posted by AHS in the fall of 2020.
A new Indigenous stream grant program has also been created to support First Nations communities interested in developing proposals under the RFP. Six First Nations communities will be eligible for grants of up to $50,000:
“This is an exciting opportunity for Tsuut’ina Nation, since we are already working on developing a quality care facility on our land. A chartered surgical facility could complement this work and be part of our vision to improve quality of care for our Nation members, as well as people off reserve. I’m pleased to see government’s ongoing commitment to support First Nations-based economic opportunities.”
“Siksika Nation is a leader in the area of health, not only on reservation lands but for all of southern Alberta. We pride ourselves on providing first-rate services and a first-rate program that just happens to be located on a reservation. With the support of the Government of Alberta, and with funding to assist Siksika to provide necessary upgrades, we feel the positive results will prove to be a great return on every dollar Alberta invests in our community.”