Alberta to move some orthopedic surgeries to private facilities to reduce surgical backlog
The province is turning to private clinics for orthopedic surgeries in order to cut down wait times and it's using public money to do so.
Currently, all publicly funded orthopedic surgeries take place in Alberta Health Services (AHS) facilities.
The province says moving some surgeries to chartered surgical facilities (CSF) would help increase surgical capacity while maintaining high quality care, without additional costs to patients.
“We know timely access to surgeries is important to Albertans and significantly impacts their quality of life,” said Health Minister Tyler Shandro in a statement.
“Many orthopedic surgeries have long waitlists, with many Albertans waiting longer than experts determine is clinically appropriate. CSFs are one way to add capacity for publicly funded surgeries and are also a part of our surgical recovery planning.”
The provincial government will be soliciting requests for proposals from facilities in the Edmonton and Calgary health zones. The final cost per procedure will be determined through contract negotiations.
Total spending toward performing orthopedic surgeries in CSF for 2021-22 is approximately $13 million, the province said in a statement.
AHS facilities will focus on emergency and complex surgeries, the province said, while CSF will perform low-risk surgeries.
According to the Alberta Health, surgical wait times have been adversely impacted by the pandemic, with the total backlog estimated at approximately 40,000.
Any facilities chosen to perform surgeries will need to abide by AHS practices and policies.
According to the province, increasing orthopedic procedures performed in CSF is part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative that’s goal is to ensure Albertans receive scheduled surgeries within clinically appropriate targets.
Similar requests for proposals were released for ophthalmology surgeries in April.
As of July 2021, the province said there are about 10,000 patients waiting for knee surgeries – 45 per cent of whom are outside clinically appropriate wait times. The number of patients waiting for hip surgeries is 3,500.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) said the move puts more money into the pockets of private health-care providers and reduces the public health-care system “to a skeleton.”
“Health Minister Shandro isn’t just burning public money,” said Kevin Barry, AUPE chair of the anti-privatization committee, in a statement. “He’s also selling Albertans false hope because there is zero proof that private surgical providers actually reduce wait times.
“Corporate care is like a blackhole – it sucks up public funds, and we don’t really see where all the money goes,” Barry added.
“All we know is that working people don’t see the return because behind the scenes, shareholders are devising ways to turn Albertans’ aches and pains into profit.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.