March 8, 2024
March 8, 2024
Health Workforce Strategy — Overtime rate
Work is underway to analyze how more full-time staff and stronger controls could decrease reliance on overtime use. (more...)
Support available for managing sleep and shift work
With the change to daylight saving time this weekend, your sleep could be impacted. If so, help is available. (more...)
Mental Wellness Moment - What causes sleep problems
Dr. Nicholas Mitchell talks about what causes sleep problems and how to sleep better. (more...)
Our People Survey results released
AHS is committed to making things better for you, and Our People Survey results have given us feedback on where to start. (more...)
Join a conversation on AHS’ wildfire response plans
Join a conversation on AHS’ plans to respond to wildfires. Share your thoughts on March 18 at 2:30 p.m. or March 20 at 3:30 p.m. (more...)
360-degree tour of new cancer centre now online
A 360-degree tour of Calgary’s Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre is now online, ahead of the facility’s opening this fall. (more...)
Share your patient-experience ideas
Share patient-experience ideas on March 20 at Xchange, a virtual forum about patient- and family-centred care. Register today. (more...)
Conversation on the ethics about behavioural agreements
Register for an Ethics Lunch ‘n’ Learn session about the ethics of behavioural agreements: March 21 at 11:30 a.m. or March 22 at noon. (more...)
Application owners’ help needed to prepare for Windows 11
IT will begin updating computers to Windows 11 this spring. AHS needs to check compatibility with critical software. (more...)
March 8, 2024
Please print and share with your teams as needed
Overtime usage has increased in recent years with additional demand for services and staffing challenges. Although the rate has stabilized, it remains too high. Work is underway to analyze how more full-time staff and stronger controls could decrease reliance on and support a culture change around overtime use.
Overtime for the first two quarters of the Health Workforce Strategy (HWS) is consistent with the annual rate for fiscal year 2023:
Under the HWS, zones are exploring how to support external hires to reduce overtime and relieve staffing pressures. Although hiring is currently under review for management and non-clinical positions, clinical recruitment is ongoing and an organizational priority.
AHS is also leveraging relationships with post-secondary and professional bodies to reach students, and refreshing and expanding our recruitment campaigns to reach a broader external audience. This work also supports our goal of reducing reliance on agency nursing.
With the change to daylight saving time this weekend, your sleep could be impacted, especially for those who work shifts outside of typical business hours.
Changes to your sleep pattern can affect your overall well-being. Shift Worker Support is available to help you navigate the challenges of shift work and assist you in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) intake line at 1-877-273-3134 to connect with a specialist who will guide you through available resources, and provide ongoing support as you navigate your work, family and social commitments.
Physicians can contact the AMA Physician and Family Support Program, a confidential 24/7 support line, at 1-877-SOS-4MDS for options and support.
Questions? Contact wellness@ahs.ca.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — AHS Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health — talks about what causes sleep problems and how to sleep better.
AHS is committed to making things better for you, and our 2023 Our People Survey results have given us valuable information on where to start. What we heard:
These results are an invitation to start team conversations. Together, your team will decide the best way to address local challenges, celebrate successes and make improvements. Learn more on Insite.
Questions? E-mail engage@ahs.ca.
AHS staff, physicians, volunteers and leaders are invited to a conversation about AHS’ plans to respond to wildfires in our province.
This conversation will provide an opportunity to discuss the findings of the debriefs and surveys conducted following the 2023 wildfire season, and to hear your thoughts on the actions that are being taken to prepare for the 2024 season.
There are two sessions available, hosted through Zoom:
Register here for either session.
If you have any questions in advance of the conversation, please email community.engagement@ahs.ca.
A 360-degree tour of Calgary’s Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre is now online, ahead of the facility’s opening this fall.
The virtual tour — the first of its kind in Alberta — is inclusive and accessible, allowing all those interested in seeing the building to view it, no matter where they are located. The Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre began construction in 2017. It is the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Canada, and the largest project that the GoA and AHS have undertaken to date.
You’re invited to Xchange, a monthly virtual forum hosted by Engagement & Patient Experience where participants can share ideas, ask questions and hear how others across AHS are improving patient experience and implementing patient- and family-centred care. Everyone is welcome.
Xchange will be hosted the third Wednesday of every month from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Register to attend and join us at any of the upcoming sessions: March 20, April 17, May 15 and June 19.
The Ethics Lunch ‘n’ Learn Series explores common healthcare issues, identifies the ethical concerns at play, and provides an ethical framework for thinking through challenging situations.
Join the next session, The Ethics of Behavioural Agreements. These are agreements with patients that can help resolve or manage disruptive behaviours; however, these agreements can become ethically complicated when patients experience them as coercive and punitive.
You’re invited to register for a session: either March 21 at 11:30 a.m. or March 22 at noon.
IT will begin updating computers to Windows 11 starting this spring.
In preparation, AHS needs to ensure all business-critical applications will work correctly on Windows 11. Application owners’ help is needed to identify these applications and arrange testing to avoid workflow disruptions when we start upgrading to Windows 11.
If you own an application that is not on the Public Application list for Windows upgrade testing, please contact waas@ahs.ca. The Windows as a Service team will work with you to arrange for an opportunity to test your application in Windows 11.
Questions? Visit Insite.
Additional information about the Windows 11 upgrade will be shared in the coming months.
