Addiction and Mental Health - Mobile Addiction Services, Adolescent

Includes mobile service to youth and families, as well as consultation and training of stakeholders.

This service is not connected to the Mobile Response Team.

Alberta Healthy Living Program

Alberta Healthy Living Program (AHLP) services provided vary slightly from Zone to Zone. Services include information, education, techniques, and support to help improve your health and quality of life with a chronic condition. Programs are offered throughout the Zone. Please call for more information or to discuss services in your area.

The program is based on a model that includes:

Health Education:

Health Workshops - Learn how to self-manage any physical chronic conditions: help related to sleep, exercise, medication management, health services and resources, as well as stress management and nutrition contribute to our health. Create goals and action plans

Weight Management Workshops - Learn effective weight management strategies though a series of workshops and using the information line

Diabetes HOTLINE and Workshops - learn important information about diabetes and the tools, skills and strategies to help manage the condition

Heart Health - education and resources on strategies needed to self-manage heart and vascular (stroke prev) conditions

Self-Management:

Better Choices, Better Health® - Learn self-management skills for the physical and emotional challenges of living with long-term health conditions. Edmonton Zone also offers a version specifically for people living with chronic pain. An on-line version is also available. Better Choices Better Health

Diabetes Program Edmonton Zone Edmonton Diabetes Program

For more information please visit our website:Alberta Healthy Living Program

Anemia Management Program

Service offers:

• treatment to improve iron levels in blood
• education for patients and healthcare providers

Antenatal Home Monitoring Program

This service provides obstetrical nursing care for women who might otherwise be cared for in hospital.
Services include:

• regular assessments of clients in their homes
• fetal monitoring (non-stress tests) as ordered by the physician
• teaching about pregnancy, birth, health concerns, and self-monitoring
• referrals to resources as needed
• communication with the referring health care provider
• lab work in client's home

Boosting Your Brain Health

Are you noticing changes to your thinking, attention and memory?
This 4-week program is for adults who are motivated to take action on improving brain health and maintaining an active mind.
You will learn:

• how our brains change as a result of our lifestyle and health conditions
• new ways to improve our brain health
• how to set goals for day to day life that can benefit brain health

How do I take part?

This workshop series is 2.5 hours long, once a week for 4 weeks. We offer in-person and virtual workshops.

Bridge Healing Transitional Accommodation Program, The

The Bridge Healing Transitional Accommodation Program is designed to improve health outcomes for those needing transitional care. The program will help clients transition to appropriate community supports, including

• housing
• physical health
• mental health
• addiction services

The duration of stays in the program will vary depending on each person’s situation. Those experiencing homelessness while also struggling with a chronic illness or health issue are often more susceptible to complications and repeat emergency department visits.

Care North Vascular Central Access Office - Alberta Kidney Care North

Vascular Access Central Office referrals are made by Alberta Kidney Care professionals for Alberta Kidney Care North patients for:

• assessment of dialysis access
• creations of dialysis access
• interventions for dialysis access

Dialysis accesses include peritoneal dialysis cathethers, Central Venous catheters for hemodialysis, arterio-venous fistulas and arterio-venous grafts for hemodialysis.

Children's Home Care

Based on assessed unmet needs, Children's HC provides case management along with health and developmental services and supports to children / families in their homes or community setting including:

• transition from hospital to home
• acute health needs
• long term health needs
• end of life support and care

Chronic Pain Central Access

We provide a referral service for clinicians who need to refer adults to a pain management clinic for issues such as:

• Low Back Pain (with radiculopathy)
• Herpetic Neuralgia
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis)
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Spondyloarthropathies (i.e. ankylosing spondylitis)

This service schedules patients into the following clinics for Initial assessment:

• Lifemark Pain Clinic
• Kaye Pain Clinic
• Misericordia Hospital Pain Clinic

Community Helpers Program

This is not a counselling or crisis service. If this is an emergency please call 911. If you are needing to speak to someone, please call Health Link at 811.

The Community Helpers Program takes place in community-based settings (schools, workplaces, community organizations) and enhances community capacity for mental health through an assets based approach. Primarily, the Community Helpers Program targets youth and young adults between the ages of 12 - 30.

In every community there are people whom others naturally turn to for support. They are from all walks of life and are considered by others to be helpers. Helpers possess characteristics like empathy, care, and compassion. The Community Helpers Program identifies these helpers and offers training to strengthen their natural abilities. Helpers learn a variety of topics and skills including effective communication, self-care, coping with stress, knowing when to refer people to professional services, handling crisis situations, and suicide awareness. In addition to developing skills and increasing knowledge, Helpers are introduced to community services and professional supports. This connection bridges informal and formal supports in the community, enabling helpers to refer peers and family to expert support when needed.

Objectives of the Community Helpers Program include:

• bridge “formal” and “informal” support for young people
• early identification of young people who may be at risk
• prevention and early intervention
• Provide young people and community with accurate information and resources
• link young people to existing service providers
• build community capacity for mental health promotion
• reduce stigma of mental health and suicide by raising awareness and understanding of the factors that contribute to poor mental health and suicide

Community Infection Control

Community resources include:

• education for community-based healthcare groups
• information about spreading infections and how to manage antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs)
• consultation for community healthcare providers, including public health, doctors, and Primary Care Networks (PCNs)

Visit the Infection Prevention Control page for more information.

Continuing Care Access

Provides a central telephone number and assistance for people who require access to Continuing Care services in the Edmonton area, including:

• Home living
• Day Programs / CHOICE (Comprehensive Home Option of Integrated Care for the Elderly)
• Alberta Aids to Daily Living (equipment surg supplies)
• Access to Supportive living
• Access to Facility Living (Long-Term Care)
• Edmonton Zone Palliative Care Program

Designated Supportive Living Services

Offers private housing and 24 / 7 care and support for seniors and adults with disabilities. Supportive living care can be provided in any of the following locations:

• Designated Supportive Living Level 3
• Designated Supportive Living Level 4
• Designated Supportive Living Level 4 (Dementia)
• Continuing Care

Visit the Alberta Health Services Continuing Care website for more information.

Diabetes Client Information and Support Line

Telephone consultation for diabetes management and support is provided by a team of registered nurses and dietitians, with expertise in diabetes.

Additional services include:

• Diabetes Program
• Patient Education

For more information visit our website.

Diabetes Information and Advice Line

A team of nurses and dietitians with expertise in diabetes offers:

• telephone consultation for healthcare providers in the Edmonton area caring for people with diabetes
• access to an endocrinologist on-call for complex questions about managing diabetes

Additional Services:

• Diabetes Program
• Education for Healthcare Professionals

Diabetes Program - Patient and Caregiver Education

Diabetes management education classes offered include:

Prediabetes

• learn how to lower your risk for Type 2 Diabetes through healthy eating, exercise and weight management

Taking Charge: Daily Management of Type 2 Diabetes

• learn about type 2 diabetes and what affects your blood sugar
• explore the key strategies you can use to control your blood sugar levels
• recommendation: attend Taking Charge: Daily Management of Type 2 Diabetes before attending Taking Charge: Long Term Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes: Healthy Eating

• learn tips to manage your blood sugars through: meal timing, balanced meals, carbohydrate choices and reading food labels
• recommendation: attend Diabetes: Healthy Eating before attending Diabetes: Meal Planning and Diabetes - Carbohydrate Counting

Taking Charge: Long Term Management of Type 2 Diabetes

• building on the information provided in the Taking Charge: Daily Managment of Type 2 Diabetes class, this class focuses on specific topics of concern and how to plan for them
• learn more about Diabetes medications, travel, sick day management, driving, and potential long tem complications.
• recommendation: attend Taking Charge: Long Term Management of Type 2 Diabetes after attending Taking Charge: Daily Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes: Meal Planning

• using the tools from the class Diabetes: Healthy Eating, learn how to plan meals using Plan, Purchase, Prepare and Pack
• practice meal planning in class
• learn tips to make recipes healthier and how to make better choices when eating out
• recommendation: attend Diabetes: Healthy Eating before attending Diabetes: Meal Planning

Foot Care

• learn how to care for your feet using the INSPECT, PROTECT, PREVENT, and CONSULT method
• learn to identify and deal with foot problems that are associated with Diabetes

Diabetes: Carb Counting

• key skills in know how to count carbohydrates for ideal diabetes management
• recommendation: attend Diabetes: Healthy Eating before attending Diabetes: Carb Counting

Emergency Medical Services Special Operations

This service works with planners of events that involve over 1500 people. The type of activities that are taking place at the event are important in determining the level of involvement of Alberta Health Services (AHS) Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Special Operations:

• obtains information from the organizer to assist in planning for their event
• cooperates with municipalities to ensure that event guests have access to emergency medical services
• works to lessen the impact of the event on the healthcare system

Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) Program - Gynecology - Colposcopy

The program is a collaborative effort between the Surgeons in the Edmonton Zone, local Primary Care Networks and Alberta Health Services.
Key outcomes for patients and physicians include:

• understanding existing processes of referral, waiting times and patient flow
• understanding how existing resources are being used
• finding gaps in the system where additional resources can make a difference
• match resources to demand improving access and patient flow
• providing more timely patient care

Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) Program - Otolaryngology

The program is a collaborative effort between the Surgeons, local Primary Care Networks and Alberta Health Services.
Key outcomes for patients and physicians include:

• understanding existing processes of referral, waiting times and patient flow
• understanding how existing resources are being used
• finding gaps in the system where additional resources can make a difference, match resources to demand
• improving access and patient flow
• providing more timely patient care

Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) Program - Plastics

The program is a collaborative effort between the Surgeons in the Edmonton Zone, local Primary Care Networks and Alberta Health Services.
Key outcomes for patients and physicians include:

• understanding existing processes of referral, waiting times and patient flow
• understanding how existing resources are being used
• finding gaps in the system where additional resources can make a difference, match resources to demand improving access and patient flow
• providing more timely patient care

Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) Program - Upper Limb - Hand Wrist Elbow

The program is a collaborative effort between the Surgeons, local Primary Care Networks and Alberta Health Services.

Key outcomes for patients and physicians include:

• understanding existing processes of referral, waiting times and patient flow
• understanding how existing resources are being used
• finding gaps in the system where additional resources can make a difference, match resources to demand
• improving access and patient flow
• providing more timely patient care

General Surgery Central Access and Intake - Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST)

Referrals for General Surgery in the Edmonton Zone are accepted through this Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) central access and intake program. Referring providers can choose a next-available surgeon with the shortest waitlist; a specific surgeon, clinic, or site; or an out-of-zone provider. FAST receives the surgical referrals, reviews them for completeness and duplication, and then sends them to appropriate surgeons for triage and booking. For more information, go to ahs.ca/FAST.

Geriatric Central Access

Provides a referral service for clinicians who need to refer people to a geriatric clinic for issues such as:

• mobility (moving around inside and outside their homes)
• falls risk
• medication
• incontinence (controlling urination and bowel movements)
• cognitive decline (thinking and remembering)

This service schedules patients into the following clinics:

• Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Geriatric Assessment Clinic
• University Hospital Seniors Health Clinic
• Grey Nuns Community Hospital Geriatric Outpatient Clinic
• Misericordia Community Hospital Seniors Clinic
• Strathcona Community Hospital
• Good Samaritan Seniors Clinic

Health For Two Network

This program provides free services that support throughout pregnancy and up to 2 months postpartum to people who require extra support to have a healthy pregnancy.

Services offered include:

• education on pregnancy, birth, baby care and parenting (including pregnancy and parenting options)
• support and referrals to community supports (such as maternity care, mental health, addictions, housing, food security)
• resources may include grocery coupons and prenatal vitamins

Health for Two is delivered in all Public Health Centres in the Edmonton Zone and over 60 different Community locations.

Healthy Beginnings Hotline

Provides 24 / 7 phone support (through 811) for parents with children younger than 2 months.

Home Care - Adult Services

Health services may be provided for:

• care after surgery
• short-term and long-term care needs
• palliative and end-of-life care
• respite services

Each client will be assessed for need, and services will be provided based on the care needs assessed.

Immunization - Records Request

Past immunization records and immunizations given elsewhere may or may not be available.

This may include immunizations given at:

• a pharmacy
• a doctor's office
• an urgent care centre
• an emergency department
• a private travel clinic
• any place outside of Alberta

Immunization records are available electronically for those age 14 years and older by registering for MyHealth Records.

For immunization records for children who are under age 14 years or do not have a MyHealth Records account, contact your local public / community health centre, pharmacist, or family doctor to request a copy or ask at their next immunization appointment.

For more information visit our website.

Knowledge Resource Service

Information can be accessed through the provincial website. A team of experts is also available to help with accessing information.

Libraries located at:

• Rockyview General Hospital
• Alberta Children’s Hospital
• Tom Baker Cancer Centre
• Red Deer Regional Hospital
• Kaye Edmonton Clinic
• Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

Living Donor Services

The program provides potential living organ donors with information, then supports them through the donation process. This includes:

• assessment and testing to see if a person is able to donate
• education about the process of donation
• preparing patient for donation surgery
• following patients post donation

Living donors can be someone related or non-related to the recipient. Anonymous donation may also be an option for liver and kidney donation.

Kidney donors who come forward for a specific recipient and are not a match, may still be able to help that recipient via the Kidney Paired Donation Program.

Mobile Integrated Healthcare

This service aims to provide integrated healthcare for acutely ill patients by providing services in the patients home that would be otherwise delivered in a hospital or outpatient clinic within 3 hours of receiving a referral.

Response time is confirmed upon receipt of referral based upon patient acuity or when service is requested.

• available services provided by community paramedics include:In-depth physical assessment with virtual consult capability
• parenteral infusion and medication administration
• laceration repair and suture/staple removal
• point of care testing and diagnostics
• in home blood transfusions (RBC/Platelets/Albumin)
• STAT specimen collection

Upon receipt of referral a community paramedic will be dispatched to the patients dwelling where they will conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop a customized care plan after consultation with the patient’s most responsible healthcare prescriber.

A detailed record of the patient encounter will be sent to the patients’ healthcare team.

For more information see our website

Northern Alberta Adult Cardiac Access Line

Healthcare providers access cardiac services in the Edmonton Zone.

Northern Alberta Pediatric RSV Prevention Program

Identifies Pediatric patients and coordinates dosing for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis (use of vaccines or antibody-containing preparations to provide immune protection against a specific disease). Patients reside from Red Deer to the Northern Alberta border.

Northern Health Services Network

Assists all people from the northern Territories who are referred to Edmonton for medical care.

• provides case management and discharge coordination
• supports patients and their families when meeting with health care providers
• assists patients with accessing Territorial benefits they may be eligible for
• updates the Territorial clinical staff
• offers information to families about transporatation and housing in Edmonton

Occupational Therapy Services for Chronic Disease Management

Offers assessment and intervention focusing on:

• activities of daily living: mobility, bathing, dressing
• maintaining instrumental acivities of daily living
• home safety and adaptations
• fall risk and prevention
• lower leg edema management for home bound clients
• medically at risk drivers (clinical assessments only)
• chronic disease management

The service also provides these other programs:

Boosting Your Brain Health

Orthopedic and Spine Central Access and Intake - Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST)

Referrals for Orthopedic and Spine in Edmonton Zone are accepted through this Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) central access and intake program. Referring providers can choose a next-available surgeon with the shortest waitlist; a specific surgeon, clinic, or site; or an out-of-zone provider. FAST receives surgical referrals, reviews them for completeness and duplication, and sends them to appropriate surgeons for triage and booking. For more information, go to ahs.ca/FAST.

Palliative Community Consult Team

EZPCCT is a team of consultants that consist of palliative care physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses. The EZPCCT consultants assess persons in their homes, supportive and facility living settings and in other community-based facilities. The palliative care consultants collaborate with the person's current medical providers to manage symptoms and to assist the person on their illness journey. The person's Primary Health Care Provider remains the Most Responsible Provider.

Once a referral is received, the EZPCCT consultants contact the person / caregiver(s) to set up an appointment; usually between 1-3 business days.
Consults may be requested by physicians or nurse practitioners. Examples of services include:

• complex symptom assessment and management advice (e.g., pain, nausea, anxiety, shortness of breath, psychosocial and emotional distress)
• conversations to help clarify conflicting wishes and future and end of life care planning
• hospice assessments and information about hospice admission
• palliative care consultants also assist when a person needs to be admitted to an Edmonton Zone hospice from another part of Alberta

Prenatal Education

Supporting clients to feel knowledgeable, prepared and involved in their childbirth and parenting journey is our primary focus.

Classroom topics are determined in real time and may change from group to group and class to class. Topics often include when to go to the hospital, the labour process, coping strengths and strategies for both mom and the support person, postpartum care, newborn feeding and care basics, finding credible information on the internet and more.
Bring your questions, bring your experience, bring a snack.

It is recommended that a series ending approximately 4 weeks prior to the expected due date be selected whenever possible. If this is not possible, please choose a class that works best for you.

For more information please visit: Birth and babies Edmonton Zone

Public Health - Central Access and Triage (CAT)

A service offered by Public Health nurses including:

• immunization (according to the Alberta Health immunization schedule)
• health education
• counselling
• support for parents
• pre and post natal care
• health assessment
• screening to identify health concerns
• referral to appropriate health care providers such as physicians and community resources

Respiratory Therapy - Community - Central Access and Triage

This team provides:

• group pulmonary rehab for patients with chronic lung disease (Breathe Easy program and Interstitial lung disease program)
• one on one education related to chronic lung disease -smoking cessation group education and one on one appointments
• respiratory assessments
• spirometry
• arterial blood gas testing
• Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) walk tests

Seating Clinic Services - Adult

Assesses clients for commercial seating components to provide comfort, safety and independence.

The Clinic offers:

• commercial seating systems to clients with physical disabilities and complex needs
• education to caregivers and healthcare providers
• advanced knowledge in adaptive seating

Custom seating systems available to certain locations only. Please call the site for more information.

Seniors Health

Community Care Access is the single point of entry to Continuing Care programs and services offered by the Edmonton Zone, Continuing Care portfolio.

Continuing Care provides an integrated system of health and personal support services to clients based on assessed need. Services may be provided in a client’s home by Home Care or within Supportive Living and Facility Living sites.

Services include:

• Home Care
• Designated Supportive Living
• Facility Living
• Palliative and End of Life Care
• Sub-acute and Restorative Care

Sexual Reproductive Health Central Access and Triage

The Birth Control Centre offers the following services:

• birth control information, prescriptions, and free supplies for those who qualify
• pregnancy testing and options support for unplanned pregnancies
• information on safer sex practices
• STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing and treatment
• pap testing
• HPV vaccine or support accessing pharmaceutical company compassionate HPV vaccine

Birth control methods available:

• emergency contraception (pills and copper IUD insertion)
• birth control pill, patch, and ring
• birth control injection
• IUDs (intrauterine devices) and contraception implant insertions and removals
• diaphragms
• condoms

Other places you can access sexual health services include:

If you have drug benefit coverage and / or can afford your birth control:

• see your family doctor (find one at albertafindsadoctor.ca)
• visit a walk-in or virtual care clinic
• access a women’s health clinic
• request a referral to a Women’s Health Clinic if you need a female Health Care Provider

If you are pregnant and trying to access options for an abortion / termination:

Women’s Health Options

If you require STI testing or treatment only:

• your family doctor
• walk-in clinics
• STI Clinic

STEP Forward

Service offers:

• Individual intake assessment with a healthcare provider to determine eligibility for the STEP Forward program
• 8-10 weeks of exercise and education, held twice weekly, 1 hour in duration, in community setting
• Progressive exercise, working up to between 45-60 mins of activity
• Kinesiologist-led education sessions about learning to move safely and self monitoring (ongoing)
• Occupational Therapist-led education sessions on benefits of exercise, goal setting, community resources (x3)
• Individual exit assessment and review of personal physical activity goals
• One, three, and six month follow-up and intervention, as needed
• Occupational therapy consultation, if required, during programming

Thrombosis Central Access and Triage

Provides assessment, treatment, and education for people with acute, newly diagnosed blood clots.
Offers assessment, treatment, and education for people with acute blood clots.
Service includes:

• diagnosis
• client teaching and follow-up
• investigation and treatment of disease and related conditions
• short term anticoagulation medicine (e.g., warfarin, heparin) management - stabilization
• consultations
• follow-up time ranges from 3 months to 1 year

Transition Services - Community

Helps seniors who are part of the Seniors Health program when they need to access a different level of care by:

• assessing and documenting the situation
• determining the right level of care, program, or site to meet the person's needs
• offering support and information for the person and their family regarding designated living options
• partnering with the Community Bed Hub

What is the role of the Transition Coordinator (TC)?
The Transition Coordinator will:

• complete comprehensive client assessments to determine health care needs for continuing care services
• provide information and referrals for Continuing Care Services and/or AHS living options
• discuss and develop the transition plans with clients and their families including identified goals
• waitlist clients for appropriate Continuing Care Living Options or alternate levels of care
• assist the client and family through the transition to another health setting or supported discharge home with Home Care
• assist with connecting clients and families with other health care teams or community programs as well as recommend non- health related community services and supports

Vascular Surgery Central Access and Intake - Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST)

Referrals for Vascular Surgery in Edmonton Zone are accepted through this Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) central access and intake program. Referring providers can choose a next-available surgeon with the shortest waitlist; a specific surgeon, clinic, or site; or an out-of-zone provider. FAST receives surgical referrals, reviews them for completeness and duplication, and sends them to appropriate surgeons for triage and booking. For more information, go to ahs.ca/FAST.

Weight Management Group Education Workshops and Support

Classes are offered weekdays, evenings and weekends.The workshops are in series of three group sessions building the skill level to achieve:

• eating habits and patterns
• proper nutrition
• stress management
• dealing with emotions
• setting goals
• being active

For more information on workshops see the Weight Management Workshop Education Calendar (has workshop descriptions, times, etc). The workshops are not recommended for pregnant women or persons under 18.

Healthcare providers from the Weight Management Adult Community Program lead virtual workshops in small groups., and partners at sites in Edmonton Zone can request to host our in-person series.

Weight Management Information Line

The Weight Management Adult Community Program providers telephone information on weight management and treatment options.

Alberta Healthy Living Program | Alberta Health Services

Workplace Health & Safety

Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) services include:

• blood / body fluid exoosures ie. needlestick
• scheduling occupational health assessments
• immunization and tuberculin skin testing
• outbreak and communicable disease response
• hearing assessment information
• ergonomic consultations
• occupational hygiene programs
• occupational safety programs
• employee wellness
• stop smoking programs
• employee and family assistance program
• training courses