🚨 Big Changes Coming to #Alberta Hospitals! 🚑 AHS is OUT, new operators are IN! 🤯 What does this mean for your local care? #Olds #HealthcareShakeup
Alberta's Premier Outlines Major Health Care Overhaul
Alberta’s government is preparing a significant shift in how some of the province's hospitals are managed, with plans to remove Alberta Health Services (AHS) as the operator of certain facilities. During a recent town hall meeting in Drayton Valley, Premier Danielle Smith revealed her intentions to reassign hospital operations to other administrators, including Covenant Health, a Catholic health care provider.
A Shift in Hospital Management
Smith described this as the next phase of restructuring Alberta's health care system. The government intends to retain ownership of hospital facilities while leasing them to AHS but is also prepared to revoke AHS's authority to operate if services aren't up to standard.
“If our operator isn't performing, we're going to take the hospital back,” Smith said. “The next phase is to see how many of those hospitals AHS currently operates that we can retake ownership of. We can’t do it for all of them.”
Smith argues that this strategy will improve health care delivery and reduce service disruptions in rural areas by introducing competition and instilling a sense of urgency among current managers.
“When a monopoly believes there are no consequences for poor service, they’re going to continue delivering bad care,” Smith stated. “Competition is one incentive, and the fear of losing operational control is another. If a hospital in Drayton Valley continues to provide subpar care, another operator could take over.”
Covenant Health Takes Charge
The government is already moving forward with these changes. In La Crete, the local hospital's authority is being transferred to Covenant Health. Smith noted that Covenant has a strong track record in rural areas, pointing out that it “has never closed down rural hospitals,” a critical concern in smaller communities.
However, Smith acknowledged that these changes won’t happen overnight. The government plans to seek public support before fully implementing the transition.
Concerns Over Restructuring
Critics, including Lorian Hardcastle, an associate professor at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine, argue that the restructuring may not address the root causes of hospital service disruptions. According to Hardcastle, shifting operations to Covenant Health could demand significant investments of time and money without clear benefits.
“It seems like change for the sake of change, without a focus on improving access or quality,” Hardcastle said. She questioned the rationale behind assuming Covenant Health would better manage rural hospitals, noting that AHS has the expertise from years of managing these facilities.
Public notices from Covenant Health have also highlighted temporary closures at some of its hospitals due to staffing shortages, challenging the idea that switching operators would resolve existing problems.
Impact on Access to Services
Another major concern is how Covenant Health’s faith-based policies might restrict access to specific medical procedures, such as emergency contraception, abortion, and medical assistance in dying. Alberta NDP health critic Dr. Luanne Metz warned that such limitations could significantly impact rural communities.
“It will be devastating if these communities lose access to services available elsewhere in Alberta,” Metz said, adding that these restructuring efforts could be a step toward privatizing Alberta’s public health system.
Metz also criticized the government’s ongoing changes, which have resulted in budget cuts for AHS, and questioned whether Covenant Health’s involvement would address the province’s healthcare challenges. “This isn’t just about Covenant versus AHS; it’s part of a broader move toward privatization,” she said.
The Government’s Response
The Alberta government maintains that these changes are aimed at refocusing AHS on acute care services, while Covenant Health and other partners will continue to play essential roles in delivering health care across the province.
“Both Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health will remain key players in service delivery,” a spokesperson for the Minister of Health said. “Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring key partnerships continue, providing Albertans with the best care possible.”
This latest move signals a new chapter in Alberta’s health care, as the province seeks to reshape the landscape of hospital management amid ongoing debates over the best way forward for rural communities and the broader health system.