Mixed reaction to merging Alberta health regions
15.05.2008 23:01
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
 Hospitals in Alberta, are now administered by nine regional health authorities across the province, but that could change as a result of a review expected to be completed next month.(CBC)Talk that Alberta will soon slash the number of health authorities in the province is generating support and some concerns. There are now nine health regions, each administering health care and hospital services in their own corner of the province. But officials, including Premier Ed Stelmach, have hinted that number could be reduced to three, two or even just one. "There is a good case from a health-care delivery side to markedly reduce that down to two," health care economist Richard Plain told CBC News Wednesday. Plain doesn't see too much outrage from communities if the number of regions is reduced, because he said there already was a large degree of consolidation. Five years ago the province cut the number of regions from the original 17 to 9. "I welcome a new governance model but I'm fearful for what will happen with our hospital, said Greg Pasychny, the mayor of Edson, 200 kilometres west of Edmonton. Edson is part of the Aspen Health Region, one of the largest health authorities, which stretches from Jasper, in west-central Alberta, to Cold Lake, in the northeast part of the province. He wants assurances that any changes in the way health care is administered will not put smaller communities like his at a disadvantage. "Our community's been waiting for over 20 years for a hospital and we're hoping that it doesn't get taken off the shelf because of a new model."  Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says many Albertan feel there is too much bureaucracy in the province's health-care system.(CBC)Stelmach would not say Wednesday what options the government is considering. But he insisted the health-care system could be improved by spending less money on administration and more on frontline care.
And it's a view, he said, the public holds as well. "They have this feeling that a lot of money is spent on administration. And if you could just take that money from administration, put more of it into the service delivery that we would solve some of the issues. That is why the minister will be looking at all of what we heard from Albertans." Health Minister Ron Liepert announced last month his plan to review the way health authorities operate as part of the government's plan to improve access to medical services and get a handle on rising costs. Details of the changes to health authorities are expected to be released next month. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksAlberta unveils prescription for health careIN DEPTH: Alberta PoliticsHealth HeadlinesCanadian researchers make autism diagnosis at 9 months: study00An early diagnostic test for autism could soon be available, according to Canadian researchers, who say they can detect autism in children as young as nine months.Canadians' drug spending on the rise, CIHI says00Spending on prescription and non-prescription drugs in Canada reached $26.9 billion last year, an increase of 7.2 per cent over 2006, according to data released Thursday. Health Canada issues warning about Trophic's Kelp product00Health Canada has issued a warning to consumers about the Trophic brand natural health product labelled "Kelp and Glutamic Acid HCI" because of high levels of iodine. U.S. court overturns verdict in Vioxx case00A Texas court has overturned a multimillion-dollar verdict against Merck and Company, the former maker of Vioxx. Overworked, unsupported nurses more likely to report drug errors00Nurses who worked in hospitals that were understaffed or had inadequate resources were most likely to report medication mistakes, a new survey finds. Health FeaturesENVIRONMENTClassifying chemicals'Batch 2' up for reviewCONSUMERCalorie trackerVIDEODisaster diseasesClean water critical (Runs 4:44)HEALTHOsteoporosisWhy men should worry about bone lossHEALTHLightning ProcessControversial training program comes to CanadaPeople who read this also read …
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