Health Care ’99 A Guide to Health Care in Alberta Health Care ’99 A Guide to Health Care in Alberta - Contents - Alberta's Health System Programs § How the Health System Works in Alberta § Community-Based Services § Albertans Using Their Health System § Home Care § Health System Focus § Alberta Aids to Daily Living § Our Future Health System § Acute Care § The Next Steps § Ambulance Services § Long-Term Care Ministry of Health and Wellness § Mental Health § Vision § Community Rehabilitation Services § Core Businesses § Private Health Clinics § Key Directions and Challenges § Public Health Services § Ministry of Health and Wellness Organizational Chart Medical Services Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan § Increasing Demand § Provincial Health Insurance for Albertans § Top Five Procedures § Premium Facts § Leading Causes of Death in Alberta § Premium Assistance § Extended Health Benefits Drugs § Travelling Outside Canada § Drug Approval Process § Drug Expenditures Regional Health Authorities § Leading Prescription Drugs § What is a Regional Health Authority? § Business Plans and Annual Reports Health Care Providers § Public Health Targets § Physicians § Community Health Councils § How are Physicians Paid § Regional Health Authority boundaries in Alberta § Allied Health Practitioners § Major Communities by Region § Practitioners Billing for Extended Health Benefits § Front-line Staff Health Spending § Rural Physician Action Plan § Budget Facts § Transfer Payments § Cash Transfer Payments to Alberta from the Federal Government for Health § Reinvestment Funding for Regional Health Authorities § Population-Based Regional Funding § Province-Wide Services Funding § Regional Health Authority Funding For copies of this publication, contact: Communications Branch Alberta Health and Wellness PO Box 1360, Stn. Main 22nd floor, 10025 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 2N3 Phone: (780) 427-7164 Fax: (780) 427-1171 e-mail: [email protected] ISSN 1480-820X Are Albertans happy with our Health Care ’99 health care system? Results of a survey released in July 1998 are very similar to the results obtained in the 1997 survey. The 1998 survey indicates that Albertans are Alberta’s Health System pleased with the quality of health services in the province. How the Health System Works Of those who personally received health services in Alberta in the last 12 months, 86% of the respondents said that the quality was excellent or good. Health services in Alberta are delivered by 17 regional health authorities, two provincial Over 73% of Albertans find health care services health authorities, health professionals in fee- accessible throughout the province. for service practice, and others who provide Over 84% of Albertans reported that the results equipment, supplies and services. of the care they received were excellent or good. The Alberta government has redefined its Of those who personally received health services role from direct service provider to setting at a hospital in Alberta, 81% reported that strategic direction for the health system service was excellent or good. through policy, legislation and standards; allocating resources; helping develop and While these results are positive, there is room for support the health system; and administering improvement. Government is working in provincial programs, such as the Alberta partnership with regional health authorities and Health Care Insurance Plan, air ambulance other stakeholders to find ways to continually services, communicable disease control improve access and quality of services in Alberta’s expertise, and the Alberta Aids to Daily Living communities. program. Government also works closely with the regional and provincial health authorities to fund, monitor and improve services provided Health System Focus by health authorities. The health system has taken on a different look in Seventeen regional health authorities are the past several years as things like the increasing responsible for hospitals, continuing care and aging population, improvements in technology, facilities, community health services and public and fiscal realities have impacted the system health programs. They deliver health services significantly. Albertans have also taken a more in each region and work with local communities active interest in the decisions that affect their to deliver health services to local residents. health and so the system has adapted to meet their needs. Two provincial health authorities — the Alberta Cancer Board and the Alberta Mental The system has several new focuses as a result: Health Board — provide cancer and mental health services on a province-wide basis. Focus on community care The shift from institutional to community-based Albertans Using Their care means services like home care, personal and technical supports, assisted living, day programs Health System and respite care are available to a greater extent In 1997-98, over 2.4 million people used the than ever before. These services are allowing health system at least once. Over 2.8 million Albertans to remain independent and healthy people were registered under the Alberta longer. Health Care Insurance Plan. Health Care ’99 2 Focus on wellness How We Get There — The Next Steps A primary focus of the health system should The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ three-year be to keep us healthy, not just treat us when business plan for 1999-2002 outlines government’s we become ill or injured. Therefore, health goals for Alberta’s health system. Strategic protection and promotion programs are investment in the base funding of the health addressing health risks in areas where system will continue to ensure that priorities are intervention can make a difference. addressed and long-term sustainability is achieved. Focus on accountability The following are key initiatives outlined in this year’s business plan: The government is accountable to Albertans for how their tax dollars are invested in the additional funding for capital equipment and for health system and what kinds of results are front-line staffing to address pressures such as achieved. Accountability ensures the system emergency care, long-term care, and home care receives value for the funding put into it. introduction of strategies to address the health needs of an aging population including drugs for Focus on primary health care short-term acute care clients outside hospitals Primary health care involves the first and the availability of health services to lodge contact an individual has with the health residents system. Since the restructuring that increased capacity for delivery of complex, highly occurred in the 1990s, the regional health specialized, province-wide services such as bone authorities are better able to provide marrow and organ transplants integrated services to meet the needs of clients in their regions. The system is enhanced delivery of mental health services becoming more patient/consumer focused. through community and facility based programs additional funding for the two academic health Our Future Health System centres What does the health system of the future look development and implementation of provincial like? While this is an evolutionary process, health workforce planning there are several key characteristics to which continued refinement of the population-based government remains committed: funding allocation Alberta will continue to be part of a publicly establishment of an Innovation Fund to administered health system that guarantees encourage innovative and effective practices universal access to medically necessary hospital and medical services without user continued implementation of alberta wellnet to fees or extra billing. provide better information for better decisions The Alberta health system will continue to improvement in services for children identified provide benefits in excess of Canada Health in the Alberta Children’s Initiative: An Agenda Act requirements. for Joint Action Incremental introduction of better approaches to health care will occur as evidence demonstrates their outcomes. Health Care ’99 3 Ministry of Health and Key Directions and Challenges Wellness Priority challenges identified through stakeholder consultations and the analysis of relevant Vision information include: The Government of Alberta’s vision for the Ensuring Albertans get the care they need: province is “A vibrant and prosperous – making certain that health services are province where Albertans enjoy a superior available when needed, with continuing quality of life and are confident about the attention paid to those health services of a life future for themselves and their children.” saving nature This broader vision is reflected in Alberta – addressing issues related to intra- and inter- Health and Wellness’ vision for health: regional referrals and access to selected “Healthy Albertans living in a healthy services Alberta.” The Ministry’s vision encompasses – addressing issues arising from the shift to three characteristics: community-based services Albertans who are sick have access to quality – ensuring the availability and optimal use of health care services. the health workforce Individual health and the health of all Preparing for the future: Albertans is actively promoted and protected. – refining the funding system Healthy social, economic and physical – preparing the system for the impact of an environments exist and contribute to aging population improved health. – ensuring ongoing innovation and integration