AHS overhaul to shift to hospital-based leadership, eliminate health zones

Danielle Smith released a video on Tuesday, highlighting these changes to AHS.

Premier Danielle Smith announced major changes to the province’s healthcare system on Tuesday.

Alberta Health Services health zones will be eliminated, shifting to hospital-based leadership.

For example, the Lakeland area was part of the North zone, but that area spanned right to the northern border of the province, and west as far west as Jasper.

In total, there were five health zones, with the North zone being the largest geographically.

A government press release says that on-site leadership teams will be responsible for hiring staff, managing resources and solving problems to, “effectively serve their patients and communities.” 

“What works in Calgary or Edmonton isn’t always what works in Camrose or Peace River,” says Smith.

“That’s why we’re cutting through bureaucracy and putting real decision-making power back in the hands of local hospital leaders, so they can act fast, hire who they need and deliver better care for their communities.”

However, acute care sites will be integrated into the seven regional corridors. These sites will operate under a new leadership model that emphasizes site-level performance management, the press release says.