Alberta health officials to address hospital capacity issues

Alberta health officials and the hospitals minister will give an update Thursday on hospital capacity and a recent death in an Edmonton emergency department; hundreds of physicians have called for system-wide fixes amid recent provincial health restructuring.

Alberta health officials and Hospital Services Minister Matt Jones are scheduled to give an update Thursday on hospital capacity. Hundreds of doctors have called for system-wide changes as overcrowding has strained services. Officials are also expected to address the death last month of a man waiting for care in an Edmonton emergency department. The provincial health system was recently restructured and Acute Care Alberta is coordinating a provincewide response that includes designated beds and surge spaces. Key points: - An update is scheduled Thursday from Hospital Services Minister Matt Jones and senior health leaders. - Hundreds of physicians, including the Alberta Medical Association and more than 300 emergency room and internal medicine doctors, have urged system-wide fixes and restored coordination. - Acute Care Alberta is coordinating a provincewide response and has set aside 336 beds for a challenging respiratory virus season and opened designated surge spaces. - Alberta Health Services was dismantled as the provincial authority and split into four new agencies, including Acute Care Alberta. Summary: Hospital capacity pressures have prompted widespread calls for changes and led the province to coordinate resources through Acute Care Alberta. Officials will give a public update Thursday and are expected to discuss the recent emergency-department death. Acute Care Alberta reports it has set aside beds and opened surge spaces to manage demand.