A new continuing care resolution team reporting directly to Alberta Health Services’ CEO has been created to ensure patients and families receive appropriate, timely continuing care placement and care.
The team – to be led by Nancy Guebert and Isabel Henderson, both experienced health care clinicians – will be available as of July 7th for patients and families with unresolved concerns related to continuing care placement or care.
The continuing care resolution team will report directly to Vickie Kaminski, Alberta Health Services (AHS) President and CEO. The team will work to resolve issues in public and privately-operated continuing care facilities.
“The team will work directly with patients and their families to ensure that patients receive the care they need in a location best suited to their needs and individual circumstances,” said Kaminski.
AHS also created a Continuing Care Concerns phone line and email account that will serve as a central point of intake for Albertans with unresolved continuing care concerns. The phone line (1-844-468-2930) and email account (continuingcare@albertahealthservices.ca) will help Albertans connect with the necessary resources and experts to provide guidance and resolution to placement or care concerns.
AHS is also launching a new front-line education and awareness program to ensure staff have the resources and flexibility they need to help patients transition to continuing care. The education and awareness program will focus on new internal processes related to placing patients in appropriate beds, and ensure that best-practice, patient-centered care is at the core of all decisions.
The leads of the continuing care resolution team will also work with the seniors and health advocate to coordinate response and actions to concerns.
-Vossen