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Health Care and Related
Services
In Alberta, the health care system is essentially
public, organized and administered by the Provincial
Government of Alberta, Health and Wellness Ministry.
Private medical clinics may provide publicly funded
health services to Albertans through the Alberta Health
Care Insurance Plan or through contracts with the
regional public health authorities established by the
Alberta Health and Wellness. In addition, for each
contract between the regional health authority and a
private medical clinic, the Minister of Health and
Wellness must provide approval.
In Alberta there are nine regional health authorities
and the Alberta Cancer Board entirely under the
jurisdiction of Alberta Health and Wellness. The former
Alberta Mental Health Board is now part of the regional
health authorities.
Each regional health authority is responsible for
operating hospitals and medical clinics, as well as
contracting private medical services within the
parameters set by the government. In addition, the
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta regulates
private medical clinics that offer insured surgical
services, such as cataract and general surgery according
to the Health Care Protection Act. All Albertans are
eligible to receive medically necessary services without
paying facility or physician fees.
In Calgary, health care services are under the
jurisdiction of Calgary Regional Health Authority who
oversees all Calgary�s hospitals and a variety of
services provided by public and private establishments,
examples of services are as following:
. medical diagnosis and treatment
. alternative health care (acupuncture, massage)
. residential care for medical reasons (assisted living
facilities, seniors� housing)
. related health services
Responding to the needs of an aging population and
special needs of different groups in the community,
health care has expanded from medical diagnosis and
treatment into services and programs that include
counseling, speech therapy, nutrition, health education
and disease prevention programs. At the same time, a new
trend in health care services is to provide
community-based, heath care integrated systems, using
also smaller health care establishments to provide these
services.
READ MORE...The Calgary Regional Health Authority (CRHA)
has a complete listing of services and programs, under
the
CARE LINK
Calgary Regional Health Authority (CRHA) is the largest
employer of doctors, nurses, patient care staff,
counselors, physiotherapists, clerical and
administrative support staff, management, engineering
maintenance and trades.
READ MORE...Employment listings CRHA
In addition, a number of private health care practices
operate in Calgary in the following areas:
acupuncturists, dental, denturology, dental
laboratories, chiropractors, medical laboratory
services, outpatient minor surgery and esthetic surgery,
ophthalmology, optometry, private medical diagnostic
services (Magnetic Resonance Imaging, X-rays, laboratory
analysis).
What types of trades and professional occupations are
in the health care sector?
Alberta Learning Information Service - ALIS provides
listing of occupations specific to industry sectors,
Occupations by
Industry Search you can select the following option:
Health Care and Social Assistance.
Most of the health care and allied occupations are
regulated in Alberta, provincial professional
associations are the designated authority to evaluate
the training and experience of each applicant. This is a
list of regulated occupations in health care and allied
services in Alberta:
. Acupuncturist
. Audiologist
. Chiropractor
. Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technician/Technologist
. Dental Assistant
. Dental Hygienist
. Dental Technician
. Dentist
. Denturist
. Dietitian/Registered Nutritionist
. Emergency Medical Responder
. Emergency Medical Technician
. Emergency Medical Technologist - Paramedic
. Hearing Aid Practitioner
. Medical Laboratory Technologist
. Medical Radiation Technologist/Therapist
. Midwife
. Nurse - Licensed Practical (RN-P)
. Nurse � Psychiatric (RN)
. Nurse � Registered (RN)
. Occupational Therapist
. Optician
. Optometrist
. Pharmacist
. Physician (Medical Doctor)
. Surgeon (Medical Doctor)
. Physiotherapist (Physical Therapist)
. Podiatrist
. Psychologist
. Respiratory Therapist
. Social Worker
. Speech-Language Pathologist
(Note: Veterinarians are also a regulated occupation
related to animal health care)
READ MORE...See detailed information about certification
and licensing requirements at the website of Alberta
Learning Information Services:
CERTinfo
There are several non-regulated occupations working in
the direct delivery of health care services, examples of
non-regulated occupations are: Patient Support Staff,
Nurse�s Aide, 911 Dispatcher (Emergency Telephone
Services), Medical Transcriptionist, Medical
Administrative Secretary, Medical Office Assistant,
Dental Office Assistant.
In addition to the occupations that are specific to the
delivery of heath care services, the healthcare sector
also employs people who work in general areas, such as:
accounting and finance, information technology, human
resources, legal, management, marketing and
communication, purchasing, sales. Government funded
medical research centers and programs create work
opportunities for scientists and engineers who
specialize in life sciences applications.
The health care sector contributes to growth in other
economic sectors, generating employment in related
business services, consulting, high technology �
information technology, retail (pharmacies and
specialized medical equipment stores), and
transportation.
Health Sector Employment Information
The 2003 Annual Alberta Labour Market Review, reported
300 new health care positions created in the province
during the reported year. This number includes only
positions working directly in health care, excluding
administrative, management, allied health care and
social services practitioners. In addition, it is
expected that after the year 2005 there may be more
opportunities for employment in all occupations due to
increased retirements. A contrary trend is also
emerging, as some people continue to work past
retirement age, reducing the number of replacement
positions due to retirements.
In Alberta, unemployment rates for health care
occupations are low, under 3% for all the major
professional occupation in the following sub-groups:
. Nurse Supervisors and Registered Nurses
. Technical and Related Occupations in Health
. Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services
Employment growth in health care and allied professions
depends heavily on provincial and federal government
funding and government policy in the health care sector.
Health care funding allocations for each region of
Alberta are dependent on the inflation rate and
population statistics in the region: total population,
population growth, age and gender, socio-economic
composition, and the amount of health care services
provided to neighbouring communities. Tremendous
population growth and the higher cost of living in
Calgary have contributed to higher funding allocation.
READ MORE...Alberta
Government Health and Wellness
In Calgary, according to the 2003 Annual Alberta Labour
Market Review, there were 12,020 people employed in the
direct delivery of health care services, as listed in
the table below. For 2004, the same report forecasts
that there will be a total of 12,340 people employed in
the delivery of health care services, with an overall
forecasted growth of 320 new positions.
|
Number of People Employed in Calgary in Health Care
Professional Occupations in 2003 |
Decrease in Employment Year: 2003 |
Annual Growth Rate Forecast Next 5 Years |
|
3,110 Nurse
Supervisors + Registered Nurses |
-5.23% |
2% to 2.6% |
|
4,080 Technical
and Related Occupations |
-1.5% |
2% to 2.4 % |
|
2,260 Assisting
Occupations |
-5.29% |
1.9% to 2.8% |
|
2,570
Professional Occupations in Health |
-3.9% |
1.9% to 2.7% |
In particular, in Calgary there is a need for more
hospital emergency services, due to a combination of
factors: population growth, increasingly aging
population and higher complexity of emergency cases. The
Calgary Regional Health Authority reported that the
total emergency patient visits reached a quarter million
in 2003, while Calgary�s population is approaching very
fast the one million mark.
The provincial government has recently approved funding
to expand all Calgary�s hospitals, this new funding will
increase hospital capacity and demand for licensed
health care professionals, patient support staff,
management, administrative and maintenance staff. In the
next several years more demand for health care
professionals and support staff will increase as the
government provided funding to build a new hospital in
the southwest of the city.
Types of Health Care Facilities in Calgary
Public Health Care System � Calgary Regional Health
Authority
The Calgary Regional Health Authority (CRHA) operates
four hospitals, and a number of heath care centers and
community care centers, for a complete list and location
of all theses facilities, please view the website CRHA:
CARE LINK
Calgary Hospitals:
. Alberta Children's Hospital
. Foothills Medical Centre
. Peter Lougheed Centre
. Rockyview General Hospital
Calgary Health Care Centers:
. Alberta Mental Health Board
. Bethany Care Society
. Calgary Laboratory Services
. Carewest
. International Union Against Cancer
. Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Calgary is at the forefront of both medical and
technological research advancements. With strong support
and expertise from the professional medical community
and various private investors, Calgary�s healthcare
facilities and technology are continuously growing and
improving to provide Calgarians with the best services
possible.
Construction of six new �i-suites� (integrated
intelligence suites) will commence July 2004 in three of
Calgary�s hospitals � the Rockyview General Hospital,
the Foothills Medical Centre and the Peter Lougheed
Centre. These state of the art surgical suites will not
only provide advanced medical technology improving
patient care and recovery time, but also allows surgeons
and students to participate and consult on surgeries
off-site, enhancing educational and recruitment
opportunities in Calgary.
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, located
in Calgary is the latest medical research center of
international reputation, funded by the Alberta
Government and private contributions. In Spring 2004,
the Government of Alberta provided $60 million for
cardiac sciences in Calgary, and the Libin family
donated $15 million for the Libin Institute aims to
become the world leader center in research, education
and patient care.
Calgary will also be home to a new children�s hospital,
replacing the current one, which was designed for 25,000
emergency visits a year, but now handles more than
40,000. The new facility will be able to support 60,000
emergency visits per year and is expected to open in
August 2006.
Private Health Care Services
Private Surgical Contracts
Private surgical facilities in Alberta must have a
contract with the local regional health authority in
order to provide insured day services. Insured surgical
services are medically necessary procedures, which are
paid for by the
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.
In 2003, the Alberta Health and Wellness Minister
approved 35 contracts in Alberta; out of which 15
surgery contracts are in Calgary with the following
private service providers:
. Ear Nose Throat Surgical Services: Holly Cross
Surgical Services
. Ophthalmology Surgery Day-Centers: Gimbel Eye Centre
(I Care Services Ltd.); Holy
Cross Surgical Services;
Mitchell Eye Centre (Mount Royal Medical Surgical Supply
Corp.); Rocky Mountain Surgery Centre (Malacan Ltd.);
Surgical Centres Inc.-
Rockyview
. Oral Surgery: Douglas J. Vincelli Professional
Corporation; Marlborough Surgicentre;
Royal View Surgi-Centre;
Anesthesia Centre for Dentistry
. Pregnancy Termination: Kensington Clinic
Recently the Health Resource Centre, a private surgical
facility in Calgary, has been approved by the Minster of
Alberta Health and Wellness to provide five
uncomplicated procedures requiring overnight stays:
primary total arthroplasty (hip, knee and shoulder),
lumbar posterior spinal fusion, lumbar spinal
lanimectomy. This Center is accredited by the Alberta
College of Physicians and Surgeons to ensure patient
safety.
In addition, one of the Calgary�s most innovative
companies and one of the Canada�s Best 50 Managed
Companies is Networc Health, a private company that
provides workplace, occupational health and surgical
services to reduce accident and injury, as well as
absenteeism due to delayed recovery in the workplace.
Networc Health operates three divisions: Columbia Health
Centres, The Health Resource Centre and At Work Health.
Private and Public Medical Testing Services
Alberta�s public health system provides Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans free of charge for anyone
with a doctor�s referral. There are 15 public MRI
machines in Alberta located in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge,
Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Grande Prairie. There are 5
private Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) clinics in
Alberta (examples: Canada Diagnostic Centers, Radiology
Consultants Associated of Alberta � Mayfair
Diagnostics). Albertans also have the option of
purchasing an MRI scan outside of the public system from
private MRI centers.
Trends that Impact on the Health Care Sector in
Calgary
Trends with Positive Impact:
. Availability of a highly educated workforce,
Calgary has the highest educated
population in Canada
with more than 60% of people with post-secondary
education.
. Alberta has the lowest corporate and small business
taxes in Canada as well as the
province is favorable
towards private health care facilities.
. Advanced medical technology, diagnosis methods and
medication reduce
hospitalization periods and patient
recovery after surgery, increasing efficiency of
heath
care delivery.
. Electronic health records throughout the province will
facilitate the work of health
care practitioners.
. Telemedicine and long-distance diagnostics will reduce
the negative impact of
specialist physician shortages in
Alberta.
. Introduction of Electronic Health Records throughout
Alberta to provide doctors,
pharmacists and nurses with
immediate access to patient lab test results and
treatment follow-up. Doctors can also track trends in
the illness development and
any emergency care and
treatments received by their patient.
Trends with Negative Impact:
. Higher costs for the delivery of health care
combined with an aging population
increase place a
strain on provincial health budgets. For example,
medical diagnosis
technology is very expensive: one
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine costs
over $2
million and MRI scans cost an average of $535 per scan.
. High stress levels in the health care professions have
impact on career decisions and
career changes after a
few years of practice.
. Tremendous growth of population in Calgary increases
the need in health care
services, heath facilities and
medical technology.
Sources:
.
Alberta Health and Wellness
.
Calgary Health Region
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