The Alberta government has accepted and will immediately begin work on the 21 recommendations from the Health Quality Council of Alberta’s (HQCA) review of health care issues released last week.

A number of initiatives will be launched to dig deeper into specific findings.

These include:

• Two task forces - one on health system governance, and one on role clarity with respect to the College of Physicians and Surgeons; and,
• An HQCA review of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

As well, a public inquiry into allegations of queue jumping will be conducted in accordance with special provisions in the Health Quality Council of Alberta Act that was passed in the Legislature last fall. The terms of reference for the public inquiry will direct the inquiry to consider:

1.  improper preferential access to publicly funded health services is occurring; and,
2. If there is evidence of improper preferential access to publicly funded health services occurring, make recommendations to prevent improper access in the future.

“Premier Redford has delivered on her commitment for a public inquiry,” said Fred Horne, Minister of Health and Wellness. “As we have always said, it was important to wait for the HQCA to finish its work before calling the public inquiry as the report provided context for decisions about the next steps. We will proceed with the public inquiry and the review of EMS even though the HQCA report did not call for these actions. These are important steps in continuing to improve public confidence in the health care system.”

In addition to leading a review of EMS, the HQCA will name a panel to conduct the public inquiry - both of those actions begin immediately. The public inquiry will have the power to compel evidence from witnesses, as well as the production of documents.

Government will move quickly to establish the two task forces. The governance task force will consider such things as lines of authority, roles and responsibilities, and accountabilities between the Minister of Health and Wellness, the Department of Health and Wellness, Alberta Health Services, including the appointment of the Board of Directors, and the medical profession.

The other task force will review and clarify the roles, programs and services of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta and ensure that physicians, outside agencies and the public have a better understanding of what the College does. Both task forces will report to the Minister.

“The HQCA report highlighted that many physicians receive little education or support on how, when and under what circumstances they can advocate effectively and that many felt threatened or adversely affected when they did,” added Horne. “The College will play a key role in helping address this issue.”

Minister Horne has also directed AHS to take steps to reduce occupancy rates in acute care beds in Alberta’s major hospitals immediately. “I’ve made it clear to the Board that I want to see marked improvements in wait times by October. This, in turn, will help reduce emergency department wait times,” said Horne. “I want to see improved patient flow through hospitals so there must be appropriate supports in place in continuing care, including home care and community supports.”

The terms of reference for the public inquiry, the Government of Alberta’s response to HQCA’s recommendations, and the letter directing HQCA to conduct a review of EMS operations in Alberta can be found at (http://www.health.alberta.ca/newsroom/news.html).

In the comprehensive 10-month review released last week by the HQCA, 100 individuals were interviewed and thousands of physicians were surveyed.

The HQCA final report: Review on the Quality of Care and Safety of Patients Requiring Access to Emergency Department Care and Cancer Surgery and the Role and Process of Physician Advocacy, is available on the HQCA website.