Ambulatory Services

Provides day procedures which include:

• ventolin treatments
• cast changes
• medicine that needs to be given by intravenous (IV)

Also provides access to these clinics:

• adult pulmonary clinic
• brace (orthotics and limbs) clinic
• nephrology clinic
• obstetrics and gynecology
• surgical clinic
• orthopedics
• phlebotomy clinic

Cafeteria Services

Cafeteria services offer food and beverages at Alberta Health Services facilities. Catering services and vending machines are available at some sites. Each cafeteria services site team is dedicated to creating great food, inspiring healthy eating, and providing outstanding customer service to support the health of Albertans.

**Please note hours of operation may vary from site to site.

Cardiac Diagnostics - Stress Testing

Cardiac stress test is a physician referred test used to measure the heart’s response to exercise on a treadmill in a controlled and supervised clinical environment. Standard cardiac stress testing compares the continuous ECG, the blood pressure measurements and patient’s physical response to the exercise to determine if the patient has CAD (coronary artery disease). The results can be interpreted as a reflection of one’s general physical condition, used to diagnose heart blood flow disease, and for patient prognosis after a heart attack. If the patient’s results are not conclusive, the physician may recommend a MIBI standard stress test or a Persantine MIBI stress test.

Cardiac Diagnostics and Monitoring

Offers heart (cardiac) monitoring services which include:

• 24 hour blood pressure monitoring (while you do your regular activities)
• 24 hour holter monitoring
• cardiac event monitoring (>24 hours)

Some communities may have limited service dates and times.

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Education

Offers teaching and supports for patients and families to understand how best to lead an active and healthy lifestyle through focusing on diet, supervised exercise sessions, and other cardiovascular risk reduction activities.

Provides teaching and follow-up to people with a history of heart problems, including:

• myocardial infarction (MI)
• acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
• coronary artery disease (CAD)
• arrhythmias
• heart failure

Also provides teaching and follow-up to people waiting for an angiogram / angioplasty, pacemaker, cardiac bypass, or valve surgery.

Offers teaching about heart disease and exercise, which includes these topics:

• heart-smart nutrition
• risk factors
• exercise and leisure time
• managing stress
• heart disease and your feelings
• conserving energy
• understanding your medicine

Information and counselling is also available for how to stop smoking, how to manage high blood pressure (hypertension), and about high lipids and other risk factors. Teaching is available if you are admitted to the hospital or as an outpatient. There are one-on-one counselling and follow-up sessions, small group classes, and phone follow-up. Some tests (e.g., Holter monitoring, stress testing) may be offered at rural sites.

Computed Tomography

Computed tomography, also known as "CT Scan" or "CAT Scan", is when pictures of the body are taken using radiation and computer-enhanced imaging.

Day Surgery Services & Recovery

Cares for people after they have day surgery procedures. If you need to be admitted to the hospital after your procedure, your surgeon will tell you.

Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention Clinics - Alberta Kidney Care - North

This service:

• assesses people with diabetes to help prevent or delay diabetic nephropathy
• teaches about diabetic nephropathy
• provides information about managing diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol

Diagnostic Imaging - Mobile MRI

The Mobile MRI visits the following locations: Hinton, Westlock, Cold Lake, Camrose and Lloydminster. Magnetic resonance imaging is a method of looking inside the body using magnetism and radio waves to produce clearer pictures of the head, spine, and other parts of the body. The MRI produces soft-tissue images and is used to distinguish normal, healthy soft tissue from diseased tissue.

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program - Community Screening

Your baby will be referred to Community Hearing Screening if:

• your baby is discharged from hospital or birth centre before hearing screening can take place
• your baby is born at a hospital or birth centre that does not offer hearing screening
• your baby is not born in a hospital or birth centre

A community screening site will call and offer a hearing screening appointment for your baby soon after their birth.

The results of your baby's hearing screening and any follow up needed will be shared with you.

Hearing screening is the best way to find out if your baby has hearing loss.

Hearing screening is quick, safe, and will not hurt your baby. Your baby's hearing is important for many areas of child and brain development. Hearing loss can delay your child's speech, learning and social skills.

For more information, visit our website.

Echocardiography

Echocardiography uses ultrasound to study the structure and function of the heart, including blood flow through the heart and its valves.

Emergency Services

If you have an emergency, call 911.

Emergency departments:

• take care of people that are very sick or injured on a priority basis. This means the sickest people are seen first. If you go to an emergency department for care that isn't urgent, you will not likely be seen right away.
• provide medical care, which includes assessment and treatment
• stabilize people and get them ready to transport to a higher level of care facility (if needed)
• provide follow-up care including referrals to a family doctor or specialist (if needed)

Emergency Department wait times are now available for Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Red Deer.

Get the right care when you need it, to learn more visit Know Your Options

This service may be impacted by the COVID pandemic. View the Hours of Operations to see if the location has been impacted. Visit https://ahs.ca/covid for up-to-date information.

Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a real time x-ray like a video, which is used by physicians and staff to assist imaging throughout the body during exams.

General Medicine

Offers care and treatment for health problems such as:

• diabetes
• pneumonia
• asthma
• heart problems
• severe infections
• kidney / gall stones
• pain in the abdomen
• cancer
• arthritis

General Radiography (X-Ray)

General Radiography uses x-rays to produce images of the structures inside the body, particularly bones. X-ray beams can pass through the body, but they are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the material they pass through.

Health Information - Access and Disclosure

In accordance with Alberta's Health Information Act, this is a service which enables the release of individually identifiable health information with or without the consent of an individual.

For health information, please contact the hospital or health care centre where you received treatment.

For detailed instructions, frequently asked questions and forms, please visit Access & Disclosure | Alberta Health Services.

Health Information / Records Management

Completes patient charts, collects data, data entry and coding, collects patient information, dictates notes, and transcribes inpatient and outpatient charts.

Hemodialysis - Alberta Kidney Care - North

Provides hemodialysis treatments (a process where the client’s blood is passed through a special filter that removes waste products and water).

Most people need 3 treatments every week. Each treatment lasts 4 hours.

Hospitals

To access contact information and a list of services offered, select a hospital.

Search through a complete list of progams and services, or hospital and facility information with the following:

Find Healthcare:

• Progams & Services
• Hospitals & Facilities

Laboratory Services

Laboratory Services provides collection of blood and body fluids for tests ordered by your doctor or healthcare provider including a comprehensive range of routine and specialized lab testing and clinical consultations:

• blood and body fluid sample collection
• biochemistry and toxicology
• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• genetics and genomics
• urinalysis
• transfusion medicine
• hematology
• coagulation studies
• microbiology
• public health testing
• serology
• surgical pathology
• cytopathology
• autopsy pathology
• student practicum training for medical lab technologists and medical lab assistants

Note: Some locations may not offer the full range of testing. To confirm availability of a specific test, contact the location.

APL Booking Line: 1-877-702-4486 or book online.

Linen & Environmental Services

Cleans acute and continuing care facilities according to standards set by Alberta Health and Wellness and Alberta Health Services (AHS) infection control.
Services include:

• waste management
• managing outside contracts (e.g. door mats, windows, pest control)
• managing cleaning contracts for leased space
• providing personal laundry services to north zone long term care clients at their request.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields and radiowaves to form images of the body. The technique is widely used in hospitals for medical diagnosis, staging of disease and for follow-up without exposure to ionizing radiation.

Used for many exams, including: head, spine, heart, bone / joints, and abdomen.

Medical Device Reprocessing

Provides clean or sterilized items for use in patient care including:

• personal care items
• instruments
• surgical drapes
• respiratory and anaesthetic supplies
• some dental and home care supplies

Nutrition Counselling - Adult and Pediatric

The majority of teaching is one-to-one, however, group sessions may be offered to promote enhanced learning of clients. Nutrition information and resources can be found on Alberta health Services’ Healthy Eating Starts Here and at MyHealth.Alberta.ca

Additional Services:

• Nutrition Counselling (Dietitian) - Alberta Healthy Living Program
• Pediatric Weight Management

Nutrition Counselling - Pediatric Weight Management

In the Outpatient Dietitian Counselling program, families work one-on-one with a registered dietitian (dietitian) trained in Pediatric Weight Management. The dietitian will help the family work on healthy eating and active living habits and set realistic goals that focus on creating a healthy lifestyle. Areas of focus include nutrition, physical activity, sedentary time and sleep.

The dietitian and the family’s healthcare provider work together to ensure the family is supported in achieving their health goals. They can also assist in connecting the family with other supports as needed, such as physical activity, mental health, and community services.

The program’s aim is to help families achieve a lifestyle that promotes healthy growth and development in their children.

For more information visit the Outpatient Dietitian Counselling website.

Obstetrics

Provides care for pregnant women who are low-risk and more than 36 weeks, which may include:

• fetal monitoring
• labour induction
• non-stress testing
• epidural
• C-section surgery (elective, urgent, and emergency)

Cares for babies and provides breastfeeding support if needed.

Go to a community health centre in your area for any prenatal concerns and follow-up after you deliver your baby.

For more information, visit the Prenatal website.

Some services and key providers may not be available at all locations.

Occupational Therapy Services

Occupational therapists apply knowledge and skills to collaborate with, assess, empower, and enable clients to:

• learn new ways of doing activities
• develop or regain skills
• use devices, materials, wheelchairs, seating and other equipment to make life easier
• adapt their environment
• maximize their independence across their lifespan

Occupational Therapy helps to solve the problems that interfere with a person's ability to do the things that are important to them.

Operating Room and Recovery Room

Serving the community with emergent, urgent and elective surgery offered to pediatric and adult patients. Urgent / emergent surgical cases are done by scheduled evening staff, 7 days a week. Patients are monitored before being transferred back to the inpatient or day surgery units.

Procedures may include:

• dental
• ear nose and throat
• general surgery
• gynecology
• obstetrics
• orthopedics
• ophthalmology
• trauma

Pediatrics

Services for the care and treatment of children up to 16 years by general practitioners and specialists. Children who need specialized services are referred to the appropriate service.

Pharmacy Services

Collaborates and interacts with healthcare service providers to provide clinical services and medications to patients in hospital and long-term care facilities.

Physical Therapy Services

Assesses people and uses exercises, ultrasound, laser, heat, mobilization, and acupuncture to treat health issues, including:

• pain and arthritis
• work-related and traumatic injuries
• lung and heart conditions
• cancer
• stroke, spinal cord issues, and Parkinson’s Disease

Registration

Patient Registration registers:

• and pre-registers patients and collects demographic and financial information
• patients for inpatient admissions, ambulatory clinic appointment, and emergency department services

Respiratory Therapy Clinic

Due to COVID-19, service times may vary. Call to confirm.

Services include:

• home oxygen assessments
• arterial blood gases (ABGs)
• respiratory education (Asthma & COPD)
• spirometry
• tobacco cessation
• artificial airway management
• trach change
• sputum induction

School Health Program

Provides healthcare in schools.

Services include:

• immunizations
• education and consultations about contagious diseases

Social Work

Services may include:

• refer and liaise with appropriate community and government agencies
• collaborate with other healthcare providers (discharge planning, family conferences)
• provide counselling and crisis intervention
• provide information/education on important resources and legislation (e.g., Personal Directives, Guardianship, Trusteeship, Child Welfare and Protection for Persons in Care)

Stroke Services - Chronic Disease Management

Services provided:

• Local, in - person support for stroke prevention clinic telehealth appointments
• Stroke prevention education in conjunction with the telehealth appointment.
• Referral to other healthcare professionals or programs as required.
• Registration for the “Living with Stroke” virtual stroke support group for North Zone residents- please call the stroke department number for more information or to register for sessions.

Switchboard

These services include:

• answering incoming telephone calls
• transferring telephone calls and
• giving out authorized telephone numbers

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is an imaging test that captures images of soft tissue organs, blood vessels and tissues using high-frequency sound waves (no radiation). Ultrasound is also known as sonography.

Not all tests are offered at all sites. Call the location for more information.

Visiting Orthopedic Program

Services provided include:

• assessment
• clinical and surgical treatment of orthopedic health issues

Well Baby Clinic

Provides immunizations for babies and young children.

Services include information about:

• breastfeeding
• normal sleep patterns
• child growth and development
• nutrition
• child safety

New mothers are also offered postpartum depression screening.

For more information please visit Immunize Alberta.