Alberta Health Policy Framework Draft 

Innovative policy directions are needed to guide the evolution of the health system in ways that will put it on a more sustainable footing while responding to the values and expectations of Albertans. These ten policy directions are not stand-alone. They are all related and progress must be made on each one to achieve the intent of the policy framework.

The collective planning process between regional health authorities and Alberta Health and Wellness will include options for changing the role of urban and rural hospitals so as to provide better and more responsive service to Albertans. Changes may include shifting some day surgery and ambulatory care services to community settings, delivering more services through private surgical facilities, linking some rural hospitals to urban hospitals for the provision of less complicated acute or follow-up care and converting small rural hospitals to centers of multi-disciplinary primary care. If necessary, regulatory changes will be made.

Alberta will expand system capacity and consumer choice in both the public and private delivery systems. The supply of skilled health professionals will be increased by providing onsite training opportunities in both public and private facilities in cooperation with professional teaching institutions.

Prohibitions in the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act that prevent physicians from ?opting-out? in certain circumstances will be replaced with provisions that will not adversely affect the delivery of services within the public system.

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