Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asserts that the provincial health provider has lost its direction therefore long-overdue comprehensive restructuring is necessary.
Smith has unveiled an extensive reorganization plan for Alberta Health Services, which streamlines its structure into one of four new service delivery organizations reporting directly to Health Minister Adriana LaGrange.
Under this new arrangement, AHS will assume responsibility solely for managing hospitals, surgical services, and other acute care services.
The remaining aspects of AHS’s responsibilities will be divided among various organizations, all dedicated to the overarching objective of reducing wait times and alleviating overcrowding in emergency rooms.
Smith emphasizes that by ensuring that Albertans have improved and swifter access to community care, family physicians, and mental health and addiction treatment, the need to turn to emergency rooms for assistance will be diminished.
The transformation process is expected to span up to two years, and although Smith assures that front-line health positions will be safeguarded, there may be reductions in health management ranks.