Alberta Healthy Living Program - Calgary Zone

The Alberta Healthy Living Program (AHLP) offers health education classes, self-management workshops, nutrition counselling and supervised exercise for adults living with chronic (long-term) conditions. All services are offered by Zoom, by phone, and / or in person.
Health Education:
Adults 18 years of age and older can learn how to manage chronic condition(s) or disease(s) with our health education classes. Some class topics include:

• diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, obesity, chronic pain, COPD, celiac disease, osteoporosis, fatty liver disease, Parkinson disease, stroke, and more
• weight management, healthy sleep habits, meal planning, stress, grief, better breathing, and more
• grocery store tours and cooking demonstrations
• how to manage long-COVID symptoms

Search our Find Workshops and Classes table for a full list of classes available provincially. View our Education Guide for classes hosted by Calgary Zone.

Self-Management Workshops:
The Better Choices, Better Health® - Chronic Pain and Better Choices, Better Health® - Chronic Disease workshops are for adults living with a chronic condition and / or chronic pain and their support people. These 6-week workshops offer participants the opportunity to learn about the following:

• working with healthcare professionals
• healthy eating and weight management
• exercise and physical activity
• dealing with difficult emotions
• managing pain and fatigue
• better breathing
• problem solving
• communication skills
• getting a good night's sleep
• action planning and goal setting

Visit website for more information.

Supervised Exercise Program:
Do you have questions about how exercise can help you manage your chronic health condition? The Supervised Exercise Program will help you better understand the positive impact of exercise on managing your condition(s) and how to begin or modify an exercise program based on your symptoms and abilities. A healthcare professional will guide you through the program and help you develop strategies to overcome barriers to being physically active. You will be provided with opportunities to attend educational sessions, exercise in a supervised group setting, participate in health-coaching, and work on an action plan to continue exercising at home or in the community. Learn more about how our program can help you by watching this short video.
In addition to our online offerings, some of our group exercise classes are offered in-person out of several locations around the City of Calgary. All participants must have at least one chronic condition and live in Calgary Zone to be eligible for these services. Visit our supervised exercise website if you do not live in Calgary Zone to learn about supervised exercise services available in your area.

Nutrition Counselling:

Adults living with a nutrition-related health condition are eligible for nutrition counselling with a registered dietitian. Participants will be asked to attend a relevant health education class, if available, before booking a nutrition counselling appointment. Nutrition counselling appointments can be conducted either over the phone or in person.

Cardiology - Electrocardiogram Services

Provides ECGs to diagnose possible heart conditions. Cardiologists and the Internal Medicine department reviews the results and sends a report to the referring / ordering doctor.

Cashier Services

Cashier services performs financial transactions, including the acceptance of payment for patient fees.

Child and Adolescent Addiction Mental Health and Psychiatry Program Community Clinics

The service offers a wide range of psychosocial assessment and family based treatment services to children 5 to 18 years with moderate to severe mental health issues. Therapy is short term, eposide care that is goal focused. Services include individual, family, and group therapy in a community clinic setting. Consultation with doctors and schools can occur if deemed necessary.

Community Accessible Rehabilitation (CAR) - Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Treatment offered for complex musculoskeletal conditions that may include:

• hand and upper extremity (arm) injuries, including specialized custom hand splint fabrication
• multiple, complex injuries due to trauma
• amputation
• certain rheumatology diagnoses
• complex joint arthroplasty

The rehabilitation focus is on achieving client goals in improved functionality and independence, to enable return to work or meaningful activity. This will include one-on-one interventions, education, exercise, self-management strategies, and where appropriate, connection with other community resources.

Community Accessible Rehabilitation (CAR) - Neurological Rehabilitation

Short term rehabilitation program for adults who recently experienced a neurological event or who have a neurological condition, who would benefit from an active rehabilitation program with an interdisciplinary team. Rehabilitation focus is to support clients in addressing their goals to improve function and independence or return to meaningful activity / roles. This may include:

• one-on-one and/or group interventions
• education
• exercise
• self-management strategies
• where appropriate, connection with community resources

Community Accessible Rehabilitation (CAR) - Pulmonary Rehabilitation

The program is time-limited, with a focus on the self-management of clients' chronic lung disease.

The following services may be offered in-person or virtually:

Multi-disciplinary, pulmonary rehabilitation program

• supervised, personalized exercise and education sessions for clients with chronic lung disease
• exercise sessions two to three times a week for 8 weeks, which include aerobic and strengthening exercises
• multi-disciplinary disease-specific education sessions on the self-management of lung disease

topics include exercise safety, medications, energy conservation, relaxation techniques, oxygen therapy, personal directives, nutrition and other strategies for living with chronic lung disease.

Home exercise program

• for clients who are unable to commit to the eight week program

limited visits for assessment, individual home exercise prescription and education on the self-management of their lung disease is provided.

Airway clearance techniques

• for clients who require instruction on bronchial hygiene (e.g. client with bronchiectasis)

Virtual session

• requirements: Clients need a desktop, laptop, or mobile device (e.g. smartphone, tablet) with video and audio capabilities

Community Accessible Rehabilitation - Post-Covid-19 Rehabilitation

The Post COVID Rehabilitation stream requires individuals to have functional goals related to their new impairments and has a combination of group and individual interventions. The areas addressed within the program are cognitive impairment or brain fog; functional breathing not associated with pulmonary causes; fatigue and energy management; and illness adjustment and emotional wellness.

The primary goal of the program is to reduce episodic disability and severity of symptoms, and stabilize clients’ functional performance.

This is not a return to work program, as many clients are unable to meet occupational demands without relapse in symptoms or worsening of their condition.

The anticipated length of stay for patients who are actively involved is approximately 12 months, unless their symptoms stabilize sooner. Any pre-existing limitations may not be addressed by our team and may need to be managed by their primary care provider.

Community Addiction and Mental Health Clinics

Services may include:

• intake assessment
• psychiatric consultation
• individual and or group therapy
• managing medication
• transition services (e.g. Independent Living Support)
• case management

Community Geriatric Mental Health Service

Services provided may include:

• assessment, treatment and follow-up
• caregiver support
• one-to-one and group treatment for seniors with mental health concerns (e.g. anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders)
• clinic and in-home service
• education for the client, caregiver, and community partners

The family doctor and other caregivers are involved in the assessment and treatment plan.

This service does not offer crisis intervention.

Day treatment Services: Group therapy, for individuals experiencing anxiety and depression, psychiatry consultation also available.

SUILL: Three phase group based therapy for individuals seeking group work for substance use. Psychiatry consultation also available.

Community Geriatric Mental Health Service - Psychiatric Consultation

Accessing this service has to specify request for psychiatric consultation when seeking one or more of the following:

• diagnositc clarification
• medication review
• recommendaiton for treatment / mangement of psychiatric symptoms

Referral may be considerd for pesons age 65-69 if requiring psychiatric consultation and also are challenged with age related (geriatric) frailty or diseases (ie: dementia, advanced parkinsons, advanced cardio vascular disease)

Community Pediatric Asthma Service

Non-urgent referrals for asthma education. In person or virtual education appointments for children and their families with mild to moderate asthma that includes a customized Asthma Action Plan for every patient. A breathing exercise (simple spirometry) for children 6 years of age and older will be scheduled as required.

Diabetes Centre - Endocrinology & Metabolism Program

Services provided:

• diabetes education / counselling with nurses, dietitians, or a pharmacist (topics include an overview of the disease, complications, medications, exercise, and nutrition)
• medication adjustment
• insulin pump therapy
• for information on the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy Program (IPTP), visit the Diabetes Insulin Pump Therapy website
• pregnant with diabetes: refer to Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic (DIP) at the hospital in which they’ll deliver
• referral to Diabetes Centre Calgary serves as indication to enact the Provincial Diabetes Medication Adjustment Protocol (HCS-296-01)

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.

Geriatric Consult Team

The Geriatric Consult Team - complete in-home comprehensive assessment for Home Care home bound clients.

Clients with complex medical functional decline, multifactorial or unexplained falls, near falls or symptoms that could lead to falls or a ER visit, medicaiton concerns / issues and cognitive decline with diagnostic challenges.

Geriatric Mental Health Short Term Assessment Treatment

It is an internal GMHCS service access by the GMHCS intake coordinator and / or the psychiatrists. STAT program invovlement is typically short term and 4-5 months.

Types of services delivered:

1. Further mental health assessment for:

• assessing for approrpriateness / therapeutic capacity for CGMHS services and / or community based programs
• determine / explore level of engagment/follow through
• identify / clarify therapeutic goals

2. Short Term Interim support between programs

3. Short Term Therapy (approximately 6 sessions)

4. Psychiatrist Consultation / Medication Review

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 - South

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.

Immunization - Adult Services

This service provides routine immunization for adults. Suggested immunizations:

• a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough)(dTap) every 10 years
• dTap vaccine for pregnant women every time they are pregnant
• Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) for unprotected adults born in 1981 or later. Some adults born before 1981 may need this vaccine if they are at risk for hepatitis B (e.g. health problems, type of work, lifestyle, contact with the virus)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adults up to and including age 26 years who did not get it in school.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine for adults whose immunization records do not show the recommended number of doses of measles, mumps, or rubella vaccine
• Chickenpox vaccine for unprotected adults
• annual influenza vaccine
• pneumococcal vaccine for all adults 65 years of age and older and adults with certain health problems

To find out which vaccines are recommended for you and to book an appointment for immunization, call your nearest community / public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community / public health centre is, you can call Health Link at 811. Bring any immunization records you have to the appointment, especially if you were immunized in another province or country.

For more general information about immunization go to ImmunizeAlberta.ca, Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca, or call Health Link.

Immunization - Infant and Preschool Services

Alberta Health Services provides routine immunization for infants and children across Alberta. Immunizations are free of charge for infants and children who live in Alberta.
Immunizations are recommended for infants starting at 2 months of age. Routinely recommended vaccines include: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal, pneumococcal, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and influenza.

For the routine immunization schedule, go to immunizealberta.ca.

Additional vaccines may be needed depending on your child’s health conditions or other risk factors.

Immunization is effective. Other than providing safe drinking water, no other health intervention works as well as immunization to reduce disease and death rates. Immunization protects whole communities. The more people who are fully immunized in a community, the safer everyone is.

Immunization is safe. It is much safer to get immunized than to get the diseases that vaccines protect against.

For more information, and to book an appointment, call your nearest community/public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community/public health centre is, call Health Link at 811. Bring your child’s immunization record to the appointment, especially if your child was immunized in another province or country.

For more general information about immunization, go to immunizealberta.ca, Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca, or call Health Link at 811.

Immunization - School Services

Each year, Alberta Health Services, Public Health reviews immunization records for students in grades 1, 6, and 9 to see what immunizations each student needs. A consent form is then sent home with an information sheet for each vaccine recommended for the student. No immunizations will be given in school without consent from a parent or legal guardian. Immunizations in this program include:

• Grades 1, 6, and 9: Any routine childhood and school vaccines that may have been missed according to a review of the students immunization record on file
• Grade 6: Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine for students who have not already completed a hepatitis B immunization series and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
• Grade 9: diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (dTap) and meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y, W-135) conjugate vaccine

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.

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.

Neonatal Transition Team, Postpartum Community Services

This community-based specialized service provides:

• support for the family following infant discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• information about the infant's health, abilities and special needs
• regular assessments of the infant's health, growth and development
• support for breast, bottle and tube feeding
• guidance to enhance infant nutrition
• liaison with the infant's physician and specialists
• referrals to other services and community resources, as required

Newborn Jaundice Screening Program

This program provides comprehensive screening for jaundice in the newborn in both hospital and community locations in Calgary. Identifying babies early and reliably provides a high level of safety for newborn infants and reassurance and convenience for parents.

As part of this program nurses in the hospital and community use a device called a Transcutaneous Jaundice Meter to measures how yellow the baby is. This device uses a flash of light and the procedure is accurate, safe, quick and painless. If the reading on the device is high, a blood test will be done.

Nutrition Counselling - Pediatric

Services provided for:

• optimizing growth
• allergy and food intolerances
• iron deficiency anemia
• inappropriate diets for age
• eating and feeding difficulties
• nutrient deficiencies secondary to restricted diets

Patient Information

Services offered:

• responding to patient location inquires
• providing direction on a patients whereabouts

Pediatric Community Rehabilitation

Services support the development of children and youth to participate in meaningful activities of daily life at home and in the community. We want to understand what's important to your child and family. Services are goal-driven; starting and continuing services is based on having functional reasons / goals for rehabilitation. Therapists will work with parents to provide the tools and strategies to apply in the context of their home and life. Therapy may look like 'play', depending on your child's age. We will work together so you and your child are supported to move to the next developmental stage or between providers and services. Services are provided by phone, zoom and some in person sessions as determined by your therapist. They may be in a group or one to one. Services provided are related to (neuro) developmental conditions and / or medical conditions. Social Work and Registered Dietitian services are available to support rehabilitation outcomes.

Occupational Therapy 0-18 years services children and their families with self - care; motor development and eating, feeding and swallowing.

• motor development
• self - care
• participation in activities typical for their development
• eating, feeding and swallowing
• modifying the environment
• assistive technology
• mobility and positioning equipment

Physiotherapy 0-18 years services children and their families with development and movement.

• motor development
• movement and function
• torticollis
• mobility and positioning equipment

Speech Language Pathology 0-18 years services children and their families with communication and eating, feeding, and swallowing.

• communication
• pronouncing speech sounds
• understanding and listening to spoken language (0-5 years only)
• using words to communicate thoughts and ideas (0-5 years only)
• speaking smoothly and easily (stuttering)
• eating, feeding and swallowing
• using gestures, pictures, communication boards to communicate (augmentative & alternative communication, AAC)

We work closely with our pediatric rehabilitation partners to ensure referrals go to the right place and services are offered within the most appropriate program.

Postpartum Community Services

Services include:

• newborn assessments including checking for jaundice
• postpartum assessment for new mothers includes physical and psychosocial assessmetns including domestic violence
• support with infant feeding including lactation consultants to help with breastfeeding
• parenting information
• information about newborn care, safety, growth, and development
• referrals to social worker support as needed
• referrals to doctors and community services as needed

Preschool Oral Health Services

Fluoride varnish helps protect your child's teeth from tooth decay (cavities). It slows down decay already started.

Your child needs four fluoride varnish visits, six months apart, to best protect their teeth. Fluoride varnish is painted on your child's teeth. It takes less than one minute to apply. You can hold your child during the visit.

You can also ask any questions you may have about protecting your child's teeth.

If your child is diagnosed with asthma by a doctor, bring their quick reliever medication to the appointment. If your child feels anxious with dental visits it may trigger asthma symptoms.

This provincial prevention service is available across Alberta.

For more information and eligibility, visit our website: Preschool Oral Health Services

Public Health Services

Community Health Centres provide a wide range of health services, which may include:

• Antenatal Community Prenatal Program (ACCP)
• Best Beginning
• Early Start Parent Drop In
• Postpartum Services
• School Health Program
• Well Child Services

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

School Health Program

This service offers:

• public health nursing to support all schools in the Calgary Zone
• public health nursing assists school communities with health resource navigation and partners with school communities to promote health and develop strong, supportive communities
• school aged immunizations through school-based programs. Routine immunization programs occur in grades 1, 6 and 9

School Oral Health Services

Services are offered to eligible schools and may include:

• fluoride varnish, provided to kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2
• dental sealants, provided to Grade 1 and Grade 2

A child diagnosed with asthma must have their short acting asthma reliever medication with them to receive service.

Sexual and Reproductive Health - Clinical Services

Urban Calgary Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinics offer the following services:

• birth control information, prescription & free supplies
• IUD & contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) insertions & removals*
• STI testing & treatment
• STI treatment for contacts
• emergency contraception (including emergency Copper IUD insertion)
• pregnancy testing and options support (parenting, abortion & adoption)
• HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) prescriptions*
• Pap tests
• care after a sexual assault
• post-abortion check-ups
• HPV vaccination

*These services generally require a pre-booked appointment ( in-person or phone consultation )

Single Session Therapy - Urgent Mental Health

A single session of therapy can support individuals needing support with a particular concern or issue. Therapists may consult with one another to provide a collaborative approach. This service utilizes a teaching and consultative model and may have other therapists observing the session. This service does not offer mental health assessment or medication review. There is no access to psychiatry.

Southern Alberta Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Prevention Program

Submission of the Risk Assessment form by a health care professional is required to determine a child's eligibility for palivizumab. Risk Assessment forms available on the RSV Prevention Risk Prevention Program website.

Switchboard

These services include:

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

Tuberculosis Testing

Offers free tuberculosis (TB) skin testing to eligible Albertans. The Mantoux skin test is not recommended to diagnose TB.

Testing is done at public health centres throughout the province:

• North Zone
• Edmonton Zone
• Central Zone
• Calgary Zone
• South Zone

If you are not eligible for free testing but still need to be tested there will be a charge for the test.

For travel or work related TB testing contact the Travel Health Services in your area.

Urgent Care Services

Urgent care services are for people who have unexpected but non-life-threatening health concerns that usually require same-day treatment. Some examples include broken bones, sprains, lacerations, asthma, dehydration, pain and infections.

All patients are seen according to the urgency of their health condition, with the sickest patients being seen first.

For more information please call Health Link by dialing 811

In case of emergency dial 911

Urgent Mental Health

Urgent mental health services are available with no appointment through the Urgent Care department. Individuals need to go through triage and register with Urgent Care. Please note there is no psychiatrist on call and clinicians are not able to make medication changes.

Urgent Mental Health conditions may include:

• depression
• anxiety
• thoughts of suicide or harming oneself
• overwhelming stress
• addictions
• other situations that cause a person to be in crisis

Hours and services may vary by location. Please select the location you are seeking to determine hours and whether both mental health assessment and single session therapy are offered.

Volunteer Resources

Our volunteer roles share a commitment to improving the quality of the patient and family experience.

Volunteers are:

• way-finders who help guide patients and families around our busy facilities,
• friendly visitors who spend time with our socially isolated patients,
• patient and family advisors who provide input and direction to AHS on numerous committees,
• supporters of our volunteer retail operations - where the proceeds are returned to AHS to provide patient care and comfort.

For general information about volunteering with AHS please visit our website.

Well Child Services

Provide appointments for:

• routine vaccination (2, 4, 6, 12, 18 months and 4 years of age)
• health education, health promotion and support for parents related to adjustment to parenthood, breastfeeding, infant feeding, nutrition and healthy eating, normal growth and development, etc.
• health assessment and screening to identify health concerns
• information and referral to community services, and community partnerships

There are 20 Community Health Centres (7 urban and 13 rural) across the Calgary Zone.