10 Together

In 2018, the University Hospital Foundation celebrates a $3 million gift from Marshall Eliuk to the University of Alberta Hospital hematology program. The hospital unit is renamed the Marshall Eliuk Hematology Unit in his honour.

In 2018, AHS wins three top employer awards including Alberta’s Top 70 Employers, Canada’s Top Employers for Young People and Canada’s Top 100 Employees.

In 2017, a new and larger heliport is opened at the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre.

In 2017, AHS launches a unique new initiative called Patients Collaborating with Teams (PaCT). PaCT involves patients in the care planning process by working directly with primary care physicians and their teams to co-design a coordinated approach to care planning.

In 2017, the Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) was launched to provide immediate crisis support to people experiencing domestic violence. The program is operated by the Outreach Centre and Alberta Health Services in the Emergency Department at Red Deer Regional Hospital.

In 2017, a new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) station opens in Wabasca-Desmarais. The $3.1 million, four-bay station enables EMS to deploy both of the town’s ambulances from one building. The station was funded through the Government of Alberta’s Infrastructure Maintenance Program.

In 2017, a new Police and Crisis Team (PACT) is launched in Medicine Hat to support residents at risk of mental health, addiction or psychosocial crises. PACT, a partnership between Alberta Health Services and the Medicine Hat Police Service, pairs a mental health clinician and a police officer who provide a shared response during emergency calls to assist individuals in crisis.

In 2017, new provincial advisory council is launched to provide a direct connection between Alberta Health Services, seniors, the disabled and those receiving continuing care services, as well as their families and informal caregivers. The Seniors and Continuing Care PAC includes 15 people from across the province who have personal interactions with continuing care, or are caregivers for clients in continuing care. They will provide AHS with advice on services and delivery related to seniors care and continuing care, and will report to the Community Engagement Committee of the AHS Board.

In 2017, a new Alberta Health Services Adult Day Program is launched through Points West Living for seniors in the Grande Prairie area who live independently at home, but are looking for more socialization and healthy living opportunities. It also provides respite to caregivers.

In 2017, two new obstetrical operating rooms open at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. The $9.7-million project also included the construction of baby assessment areas within each operating room, giving mothers a sightline to their babies, and a recovery room that will allow both parents to spend quiet time with their newborns. The project began in 2014, funded by the Government of Alberta. The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation provided an additional $1.2 million for equipment.

In 2017, a Gamma Knife suite opens the University of Alberta Hospital. The Gamma Knife, fully funded by the University Hospital Foundation, delivers a highly accurate dose of radiation to certain tumours and other lesions while minimizing the impact on the patient’s normal brain tissues. The highly focused beams of gamma rays are guided with surgical precision, without a scalpel and without the usual risks of open neurosurgery.

In 2017, two new labour and delivery rooms open at the Canmore General Hospital. The expansion is made possible through Lorne and Joyce Heuckroth’s donation of $710,000 to the Canmore and Area Health Foundation.

In 2017, a new heliport was opened at the Didsbury Hospital. The Rosebud Health Foundation raised the funds required to construct the new heliport.

In 2017, the new High Prairie Health Complex opens to the public. The new hospital is larger, more spacious, more patient-friendly and allows physicians and healthcare staff to provide enhanced care to the residents of High Prairie and surrounding area. Funding for the $228.3 million facility was provided through the Government of Alberta’s capital projects.

In 2017, a new neonatal intensive care unit opens at the Peter Lougheed Centre which provides more space and privacy for the tiniest, most fragile newborns from Calgary and throughout southern Alberta. The new NICU is part of a $79.3-million redevelopment project underway at the Peter Lougheed Centre. The Calgary Health Trust has contributed $3.6 million to support the redeveloped Vascular Centre of Excellence, which opened late 2015, and another $2.1 million to support the NICU and Women’s Health project, which aims to provide the best possible care to mothers and their babies through new state-of-the-art technology.

In October 2017, a groundbreaking ceremony is held to mark the construction of the new Calgary Cancer Centre.

In 2017, the Karol Maschmeyer Practice Readiness Centre opens at the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital. The centre offers simulated scenarios which enable healthcare professionals to practice and master individual and team skills. The Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital Foundation also launches a fundraising campaign for the simulation label to raise $750,000 needed to purchase equipment and create a designated suite inside the hospital.

In 2016, the Viking Health Centre George H. Roddick Heliport becomes operational. The opening event pays tribute to Roddick, who was instrumental in getting the project started.

In 2016, an expanded cancer centre opens in High River. Since opening in 1998, the centre has operated as a satellite clinic of Calgary’s Tom Baker Cancer Centre. The project is made possible through the Rotary Club of High River’s donation of $1.6 million to the High River District Health Foundation.

Alberta becomes home to Canada’s first Stroke Ambulance with support from the University Hospital Foundation.