Alberta's five regional health care zones are being replaced with seven regional health corridors to reflect travel patterns and where residents access health services and facilities.
Instead of Calgary, Edmonton, South, North and Central Zones, there will be North-West, North-East, Edmonton, Central, Calgary, South-West, South-East health corridors.
The corridors take into consideration data on how Albertans use health care services based on factors such as travel patterns, access points and local population needs, as well as feedback received during public engagement sessions.
"We have a lot of data we were able to use the make evidence-based decisions on those health corridors," said Health Minister Adriana LaGrange during a press conference in Edmonton on Monday.
LaGrange said as someone living in the Red Deer area which is part of Central Zone, it has never made sense to her that Vegreville was included in Central Zone.
Vegreville is about 250 km north east of Red Deer where Central Zone's regional hospital is located. Meanwhile, Edmonton is about 105 km west of Vegreville.
The province says health corridors will help government to better determine gaps in the health care system and inform investments in those areas, including operational dollars and funding for capital projects. Getting a better regional understanding of how the health care system is being used will ensure decision-making processes reflect the changing needs of Albertans.
“New health care corridors present many opportunities within Alberta’s health care system. Further regionalization of services, in addition to a focus on rural needs and representation, will be essential to ensuring our communities get access to the care they need," said Kara Westerlund, president of Rural Municipalities of Alberta, in a statement.
Developing the corridors is part of the province's work to refocus health care and create four integrated provincial health agencies to oversee primary care, acute care, continuing care, and mental health and addiction.
Two of the provincial health agencies, Recovery Alberta and Primary Care Alberta, have been established. Acute Care Alberta, which will include hospitals, emergency services and surgery care, will begin operating in spring 2025.
Albertans can participate in upcoming telephone town halls with LaGrange to discuss the provincial government's ongoing work on the health system. Town halls will take place:
• Nov. 19, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Nov. 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Nov. 28, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
People can also provide feedback online until Dec. 5.
A second round of in-person public engagement is planned for winter/spring 2025. Those interested in keeping up with work on the health system and new engagement opportunities can sign up for an e-newsletter.
Visit www.alberta.ca/lead-the-way for more information.
