The right care when and where Albertans need it, released by Alberta on 14 March 2024 [Video]

Good day ladies and gentlemen, this is IRC news, I am Joy Stephen, a certified Canadian Immigration practitioner, and I bring to you this Provincial News Bulletin from the province of Alberta. This recording originates from the Polinsys studios in Cambridge, Ontario.

On average, there are about 1,500 Albertans who have finished their required hospital care and are waiting in hospital beds until they can be moved to a more appropriate setting, such as a continuing care space or community care services. This represents almost 18 per cent of all acute care spaces in the province, and Albertans in these situations are known as alternate level of care (ALC) patients. Since December, Alberta’s government has been able to reduce the number of ALC patients specifically waiting for transfer to a continuing care facility by almost 30 per cent.

Moving these patients sooner frees up space in hospitals and helps ensure that Albertans waiting in emergency departments for in-patient beds and those waiting for surgery can get the care they need. Almost half of ALC patients are transferred to more appropriate care settings outside the hospital within seven days and the majority are transferred within 25 days. However, there are many patients who are experiencing delays and staying in hospitals much longer than required.

Alberta’s government is committed to improving access to the province’s publicly funded health care system. If passed, Budget 2024 honours the province’s commitment of $1 billion over three years to transform continuing care in Alberta. The second year of this funding would continue to support efforts related to increasing care in the community, enhancing workforce capacity, improving quality, and increasing choice and innovation.

In addition, the province has allocated $654 million in funding over three years for the Continuing Care Capital Program to improve access to continuing care spaces for Albertans, including those who no longer need to stay at a hospital but require further support. This funding will also support efforts to reduce emergency department wait times by freeing up more beds and making sure Albertans are getting the right supports in the appropriate setting. Alberta’s government is creating additional spaces in priority communities, including delivering culturally appropriate care for Indigenous residents on and off reserves and Metis Settlements.

Work by these departments includes:

Tactical teams, including members from each department, that are focused on removing barriers and providing supports for patients facing specific personal challenges obtaining care in an appropriate setting.
A Specialized Patient Flow Improvement Team that is reviewing hospital patient flow and processes from hospital admission to discharge to find improvements.
Home care providers that collaborate to get patients back to their homes sooner by customizing services and supports to safely meet patient needs for as long as possible.
At the same, time, temporary continuing care spaces are being created for patients awaiting an assessment and transfer to continuing care. These new spaces will free up hospital beds and reduce emergency room and surgery wait times. An additional 150 temporary spaces have been created in the province over the past five months and by early 2025, a total of 1,050 additional spaces will be operational.

Budget 2024 is a responsible plan to strengthen health care and education, build safe and supportive communities, manage the province’s resources wisely and promote job creation to continue to build Alberta’s competitive advantage.
This latest development is of paramount importance to Job Titles as listed earlier contemplating immigration to Alberta. It offers invaluable insights into the current landscape, enabling this set of professionals to fine-tune their immigration approaches to effectively meet the evolving demands of the industry.
You can always access past news from the Province of Alberta by visiting this link: https://myar.me/tag/ab/.

Furthermore, if you are interested in gaining comprehensive insights into the Provincial Express Entry Federal pool Canadian Permanent Residence Program or other Canadian Federal or Provincial Immigration programs, or if you require guidance after your selection, we cordially invite you to connect with us through https://myar.me/c.

We highly recommend participating in our complimentary Zoom resource meetings, which take place every Thursday. We kindly request you to carefully review the available resources. Should any questions arise, our team of Canadian Authorized Representatives is readily available to address your concerns during the weekly AR’s Q&A session held on Fridays. You can find the details for both of these meetings at https://myar.me/zoom.