October 6, 2023
We are working to urgently address four key priorities. They are:
Much of this work is underway. We will continue to use this update to highlight actions being taken to address our priorities.
Reducing emergency medical services (EMS) response times
AHS EMS dispatch is ACE
Improving patient flow and continuity of care
Endocrinology services now available in central Alberta
Reducing surgery wait times
Surgical waitlist update
Work continues on other AHS priorities including:
Workforce Recruitment & Retention
Access stress supports
Prolonged stress is a natural response to change but prolonged stress is harmful and leads to burnout. Get support from the Employee and Family Assistance Program. (more...)
Mental Wellness Moment
Dr. Nicholas Mitchell discusses the role boredom plays in maintaining good mental health and ‘recharging’ the brain. (more...)
AHS immunization clinics open next week
AHS immunization clinics will open across all zones starting the week of Oct. 10. You can walk in, book online or call 811. (more...)
Respiratory virus dashboard now online
The Government of Alberta has launched a respiratory virus dashboard. It includes reporting for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. (more...)
Thank you for your E. coli efforts
Thank you for the dedication shown by all groups and disciplines that continue to work to manage the E. coli outbreak in Calgary. (more...)
AHS Vlog - spotlight on eSIM
Guests on the AHS Vlog discuss the eSIM program, which enables participants to practise their skills in a real-world environment. (more...)
Restart your computer to apply Microsoft Teams update
If you have a dedicated AHS computer, please restart your computer as soon as possible to ensure security updates are applied. (more...)
Help protect AHS from cyber-threats
Cyber security is important at organizations like AHS. InfoCare has helpful resources, tips and information on this important topic. (more...)
Talk on health systems partnering with people, communities
Register for Cormac Russell's Nov. 6 virtual presentation that explores how communities and citizens are co-creators of health. (more...)
Reminder to register for the i4 2023 conference
Registration for the i4 2023 conference closes Oct. 27. (more...)
As we approach the Thanksgiving long weekend, I offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication to patients, families and each other. I am grateful for each and every one of you, and for your contributions to healthcare in this province. Because you are so important to our team, I also encourage to book an immunization appointment — either at a Workplace Health and Safety immunization clinic or a public clinic (see details above). Getting immunized remains one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from respiratory illness.
With enduring gratitude and appreciation,
Mauro Chies
AHS President & CEO
October 6, 2023
Please print and share with your teams as needed
We are working to urgently address four key priorities. They are:
Much of this work is underway. We will continue to use this update to highlight actions being taken to address our priorities.
AHS Dispatch Communications and Deployment has been reaccredited as a medical accredited centre of excellence (ACE). There are only 221 medical ACEs worldwide. This is a significant achievement, marking its third accreditation, and it stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication, skill and excellence demonstrated by each member of the dispatch and communications team.
The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) is an accredited centre of excellence for emergency medical dispatching. IAED is the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch services worldwide. Accreditation (and subsequent re-accreditation) from the IAED is the highest distinction given to emergency communication centres, certifying that the centre is performing at or above the established standards for the industry. Centres that earn ACE status are the embodiment of dispatch done right, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement.
Congratulations to the team.
Endocrinology services now available in central Alberta
Residents of central Alberta can now access endocrinology services closer to home with the recruitment of a new specialist, Dr. Haiju Chirayath, who is practising out of the Medical Specialty Clinic at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. Prior to Dr. Chirayath’s recruitment, patients in central Alberta were required to travel to Edmonton or Calgary for endocrinology services.
The endocrinology program will support patients (16 and older) with conditions such as diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperlipidemia, obesity, osteoporosis, hypogonadism, as well as thyroid, adrenal, pituitary and parathyroid disease and endocrine disorders in pregnancy.
As of Oct. 2, approximately 55 per cent of cases on the surgical waitlist at adult facilities were within clinically appropriate wait times.
Work continues on other AHS priorities, including:
Newly recruited international nurses arriving in province
Nearly 70 internationally educated nurses from about 15 countries are coming to practise at AHS as part of recruitment efforts designed to strengthen the organization’s rural health workforce and services.
The newly recruited nurses — all of whom are thoroughly screened and assessed to ensure they have the skills and experience to work as a registered nurse in Alberta — are now arriving in groups and continuing to arrive over the next few months. They will disperse to 30 AHS sites with the greatest staffing needs, starting in rural communities across northern and central Alberta. These AHS sites include hospitals, community health centres and long-term care facilities.
More nurses are anticipated to arrive in cohorts over the next two years. I am grateful to have these nurses joining our teams, bringing needed skills and capacity, and I am confident the support of our staff and communities will help these nurses feel welcome.
Stress is a natural response to change but prolonged stress is harmful and leads to burnout. Get the support you need from the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
You have several options for stress supports:
At any time, you can call the EFAP intake line at 1-877-273-3134. Physicians can contact the AMA Physician and Family Support Program at 1-877-767-4637 for options and support.
Questions? Contact wellness@ahs.ca.
In this Mental Wellness Moment installment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for AHS Addiction and Mental Health — discusses the role boredom plays in maintaining good mental health and ‘recharging’ the brain.
Respiratory virus season is upon us again, and AHS is encouraging staff, physicians and volunteers to get immunized this year. Immunization plays a critical role in reducing the number of influenza and COVID-19 cases, reducing outbreaks, and protecting staff and patients from getting sick, especially vulnerable populations such as seniors and young children.
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) immunization clinics will open across all zones starting the week of Oct. 10. You can walk in, book online or call 811 to make an appointment. To get the influenza vaccine, you can also check your facility for a roving cart or get immunized by a site champion on your unit.
This year, you will have the option to receive an mRNA XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine and an influenza vaccine at the same booking at participating WHS clinics.
Questions? Visit Employee Influenza Immunization on Insite.
On Oct. 10, all Albertans can book their immunizations online at ahs.ca/vaccine or by calling 811. Appointments begin Oct. 16, offering influenza vaccine, free of charge, to all Albertan six months of age and older. COVID-19 vaccines may also be offered to eligible individuals with each influenza vaccine appointment booked.
Earlier this week, the Government of Alberta launched its respiratory virus dashboard. The dashboard includes reporting for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV cases and positivity, with plans to collect severe outcomes data in the near future. The dashboard will be updated every Thursday throughout the respiratory virus season.
As the cases of E. coli in Calgary wane, AHS teams continue to work to ensure the health and safety of those affected by this outbreak. To date, a total of 360 lab-confirmed cases are connected with this outbreak, which was declared on Sept. 4. A total of 37 children and one adult have been hospitalized. More than 1,200 children connected to this outbreak have been cleared to return to a daycare facility.
I want to express my deep appreciation for the dedication shown by all groups and disciplines that continue to work to manage this outbreak. Your commitment to the well-being of our community has been inspiring. Your unwavering support and teamwork have made a significant impact and, together, you have successfully navigated this challenging situation.
I will keep you apprised of any updates as needed. For the latest information on this outbreak, visit ahs.ca/ecoli
The latest AHS Vlog shines a spotlight on one of our most innovative programs, eSIM—which stands for educate, simulate, innovate, motivate.
Simulation facilities re-create clinical events enabling participants to practise their skills in an interactive, real-world experience with the chance to learn from mistakes without causing any harm.
Last year, the program supported more than 2,100 simulation sessions involving around 18,500 learners—and 154 of these sessions took place in rural and remote areas. Their rural simulation training bridges the gap between theory and practice, equipping healthcare practitioners with vital skills for quality care delivery specific to rural needs.
Joining the AHS Vlog to tell us more are:
From left, guest host Dr. Francois Belanger with Tara Fuselli and Anna Maria Mundel
AHS has recently learned of a global security flaw found in numerous applications and services. This vulnerability (found in an image library called “libwebp”) affects several well-known applications, including Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft has developed a fix to help protect Teams from this security flaw. However, for this fix to take effect, you will need to restart your computer.
If you have a dedicated AHS computer, please restart your computer as soon as possible. The fix will then be applied automatically and there will be no further steps required. If you use a shared AHS computer, no actions are required. IT can restart shared computers remotely to ensure the fix is applied.
AHS is taking steps to mitigate any risk. By restarting your computer, you can help us ensure our AHS systems are protected.
Cyber security is extremely important at an organization like AHS, which handles huge volumes of confidential data and depends heavily on digital infrastructure, ranging from collaboration software such as Microsoft Office to patient-care systems such as Connect Care.
AHS is celebrating Cyber Security Awareness Month in October. This is an internationally recognized campaign aimed at boosting public awareness of this critical topic. This year’s theme is Step Up Your Cyber Fitness, and it invites everyone at AHS to get ‘cyber-fit’ to protect our organization from threats and criminals. Be sure to stay tuned to InfoCare for tips, resources and information.
The interactions we have with people in our health system represent a small part of their overall health and wellness. On Nov. 6 from noon to 1 p.m., Cormac Russell — a world renowned expert on asset-based community development — will host a virtual presentation on how communities and citizens are co-creators of health, and how our health systems can be better guests in the lives of the people and communities we serve. He will give space for conversation about breaking down silos, advancing health through asset-based community approaches and how equity in partnership is key. Register to attend.
The presentation, titled Beyond the Walls: Partnering with People and Communities to Achieve Health, is being hosted during Patient- and Family-Centred Care Week, which runs from Nov. 6-10.
The future of health and care takes place at the intersection of people, relationships, community and science and technology. Success in health and care services is tied to societal progress and the exploding speed of technology. On Nov. 1 and 2, the i4 conference will bring together collaborators to help you invent the future of health and care services. Be part of that future. There is still time to register. Learn more on the i4 2023 page.
As we approach the Thanksgiving long weekend, I offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication to patients, families and each other. I am grateful for each and every one of you, and for your contributions to healthcare in this province. Because you are so important to our team, I also encourage to book an immunization appointment — either at a Workplace Health and Safety immunization clinic or a public clinic (see details above). Getting immunized remains one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from respiratory illness.
With enduring gratitude and appreciation,
Mauro Chies
AHS President & CEO
