Category Archives: Healthcare Quality

Feedback Please

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A small group of patient/famiy advisors and Alberta Health Services staff have been working to create an app that could easily capture data regarding the patient/family experience at the end of a clinic/hospital visit. This app would allow programs/areas to obtain information about the patient’s/family’s experience immediately after the care was received. All feedback, including Ideas and suggestions of how the program/area could be more patient and family centred, would be provided anonymously. Having this information readily available would allow managers and healthcare teams to make improvements in the care provided by their program/area.

A prototype of this app has been developed, which will be tested in two clinics. However, before doing so, your assistance is being sought via the completion of a short survey relating to the prototype. If you could take a few minutes to complete this survey, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help! Please note that the survey is NOT limited to family/patient advisors.

What is Sepsis?

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If you have no idea what sepsis is, you are not alone. However, with doctors being encouraged to pay more attention to the possibility of this life-threatening condition occurring, you are apt to hear more about it. In fact, in a recent “The Current” on CBCListen, host Anna Maria Tremonti discussed sepsis in a segment entitled “Why time is of the essence in treating sepsis — a growing killer in Canada.” 

If you have not listened to the program, you may wish to do so. Thanks to Nadine, a member of our Pts4Chg community, for bringing this program to our attention.

A Telling Text

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With efforts being made to address the many Indigenous health issues in Canada, the recommendations put forth by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the high suicide rate in some Indigenous communities, a text sent out by an Alberta Health Services employee has generated much anger and disappointment.

According to an article found on the CBCNews Calgary website,

An Alberta Health Services employee has been suspended after using a racial slur in a text message to refer to a Kainai Board of Education school principal.

The texts sent by the AHS employee on Monday refer to a colleague apparently being disciplined during a training event on the Kainai First Nation, also known as the Blood Tribe First Nation, which is southwest of Lethbridge and about 200 km south of Calgary.

However, the AHS employee accidentally sent the texts to an employee at the Kainai Board of Education.

Ramona Big Head — principal of Tatsikiisaapo’p Middle School in Stand Off — said she’s referred to in one of the texts as a “rabid squaw.”

Click here to read the full CBC story.

Here is a follow-up article pertaining to the above story.

Calling All Albertans

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Do you live in Alberta?
Would you like to see improvement in Alberta’s healthcare system?

If you answered “Yes” to the above questions, IMAGINE Citizens Collaborating for Health is looking for you. In particular, IMAGINE is seeking 25 Albertans to participate in a province-wide conversation that will focus on improving Alberta’s primary health care system. Deadline for applications is June 19th. Click here to find out more.

Highlights from #WMTY17

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The global campaign entitled, “What Matters to You” was held on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. In addition to a number of events happening in various locales around the world, there was plenty of action occurring online. In addition to interactive blogs, the Twittersphere saw many #WMTY17-related tweets flying about. Below are just a few of the tweets shared. Thanks to everyone who participated in this campaign. Let’s keep asking the question, “What Matters to You?”


And We’re Off!

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Today, Tuesday, June 6th, is the day for you to ask and answer the following question.
“What Matters to You?”
Join in the discussion on Twitter, using the hashtag #wmty17 and on the public blog found at https://t.co/sLz6U3P5nL

Better Healthcare for Albertans

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Late last week, the Office of the Auditor General of Alberta released a report on integrated healthcare in Alberta. The report, entitled “Better Healthcare for Albertans,” raises many important issues as well as highlights some important work being done, including by the Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs). If you have not already read the report, you may wish to do so.

What has Changed?

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Five years ago, Greg Price died of testicular cancer. His death brought forth a major review of the healthcare system in Alberta. As a result of this review, a number of changes were suggested. However, have these suggestions been realized?

In a recent interview, David Price, Greg’s father, stated the following. “We’re disappointed really — there has been some progress made, but there’s an awful lot that’s still left to be done.” (Global News)

Click here to read the article and watch the video.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

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On Tuesday, February 28th, Red Deer doctors held a public meeting to discuss the deficiencies at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.and the impact they were having on patients and the care they received. In 2014, there was a plan to address these issues, which included redeveloping the hospital. However, in late 2016, Alberta Health Services removed this redevelopment plan from its list of priorities. This they did even though the Red Deer Regional Hospital is the fourth busiest in the province, is in need of “96 more admitting beds, 8 more emergency room beds and three more operating rooms.” In a notice issued by the doctors, “‘If you find the treatment of central Albertans by policy-makers and government unacceptable and unfair, let your voice be heard.'” Click here to read more.