Addiction and Mental Health - Postpartum Depression Program

In turn, this supports and promotes the overall future development and health of children. Support is collaborative with clients’ other professional care providers as appropriate.

Breastfeeding Clinic

Free service that supports breastfeeding mothers and mothers with breastfeeding issues due to:

• not making enough milk
• plugged ducts
• mastitis
• thrush
• latching issues
• poor infant weight gain
• breast reduction surgery
• adoptive nursing

Car Seat Safety

If you need assistance with your child safety seat, please refer to the child safety seat owner’s manual and the appropriate YES Test available at Health Link.

For more information on rear-facing / forward-facing car seats, booster seats and Transport Canada public notices on child restraint systems (recalls), visit our website.

Communicable Disease Control

Under the authority of the Medical Officer of Health, the program is responsible to prevent and control communicable diseases (CD) which are notifiable (under the Communicable Disease Regulations of the Public Health Act of Alberta). Strategies to do this include:

• preventing infection through teaching and prophylaxis (including immunization)
• limiting the spread of infections by timely investigation and follow-up of notifiable CD incidents and putting protective measures in place
• providing epidemiologic data for reporting and public health response measures
• continuous monitoring and surveillance of CDs in the community so they may be found and responded to before people get sick or there is a disease outbreak

Additional Information:

• Alberta List of Notifiable Diseases

Diabetes Insulin Pump Therapy Clinics

Provides support for people of all ages with type 1 or type 3 diabetes who want to start using an insulin pump. An insulin pump is a device a person wears instead of giving daily insulin injections. It is portable and can be programmed. It’s about the size of a pager and delivers fast-acting insulin through a small tube that is put under the skin. The site has to be changed every 2 to 3 days.

For more information, please visit: Diabetes Insulin Pump Therapy | Alberta Health Services

Diabetes Specialty Clinic

Services include:

• one to one counselling and follow-up sessions
• group classes
• education and follow-up for women with gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy)
• pediatric diabetes education and follow-up (offered with a pediatrician - Grande Prairie only)

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

Emergency / Disaster Management

Core functions of the Division include:

• collaborating with zones, corporate and provincial portfolios to lead risk assessment, emergency and continuity planning, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts
• supporting the implementation of site-specific emergency response codes and plans, site recovery plans and enterprise-wide departmental business continuity plans
• managing the AHS strategic incident management network of command centres including the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre, five Zone Emergency Operations Centres, and multiple site / service command posts
• supporting design / development and sustainment of the Incident Management Operating System (IMOS)
• facilitate the planning for recovery and continuity of critical business, facilities, equipment, and supplies, staffing and technology services in the event of a disruption
• providing 24 / 7 on-call support and serving as the AHS single point of contact for external agencies for emergencies / disasters
• facilitating post incident/exercise reviews, identifying areas for improvement, preparing reports detailing outcomes and actions for consideration, and tracking action items to closure
• designing, delivering, and participating in internal exercises and tests and multi-agency exercises with municipalities and industry partners
• standardizing and developing all E/DM and BCM education and training materials, online and in-person
• engaging with government and community partners to support planning and preparedness activities, build relationships and processes to support inter-agency operability during an emergency, disaster, or disruption

Environmental Public Health - Water Sample Bottle Pick-up and Drop-off

Drinking water, beaches and swimming pool water can be tested. Chemical water sampling testing is available and looks for common chemicals and trace metals found in water. Bacteria water sampling tests water samples for indicator bacteria to ensure water is safe.

For additional information,

• Environmental Public Health - Drinking Water
• Sample Your Water - Environmental Public Health
• Testing your drinking water in Alberta

General Nephrology Clinic - Alberta Kidney Care - North

Services provided may include:

• prevent and treat causes of kidney problems
• keep kidneys working at their best
• slow progress to end-stage kidney disease

The Rural General Nephrology Clinics are offered in some rural communities to help more people get service without having to travel. Clinics are offered in:

• High Level
• Grande Prairie
• Peace River
• Whitecourt
• Westlock
• St. Paul

Health Promotion Program

Teaches individuals, organizations and communities about making healthy lifestyle choices by:

• building healthy public policy
• creating supportive environments
• strengthening community action
• developing personal skills
• reorienting health services

Topics include:

• tobacco cessation
• injury prevention
• healthy eating
• staying active
• staying safe in the sun

Healthy Beginnings

Provides nursing care and support which may include:

• postpartum primary caregiver health assessment and infant assessment
• breastfeeding support
• infant feeding support
• information about parenting and baby care
• referrals to healthcare providers or community resources as needed.

You will be contacted after you are discharged from the hospital to arrange an initial assessment

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

Indigenous Hospital Support Services

This program provides support and health information to healthcare providers, Indigenous patients / clients and their families through personal visits. Specifically, this includes:

• case management
• patient advocacy
• cultural teaching
• patient/client language interpretation
• health literacy support
• logistical support for discharge planning for Indigenous peoples

This service is available on-site in hospitals, public health centres and in the community. Upon request, staff can be present at hospital rounds, medical appointments and case conferences. This program will communicate with the healthcare team to ensure provision of culturally sensitive healthcare service.

Patient / client language interpretation service is also available upon request.

Patients and clients may also be asked about their healthcare experience to help ensure they receive the best possible healthcare.

Indigenous Wellness Core

This program:

• supports cultural awareness and sensitivity
• help navigate patients through the healthcare system
• referrals to addiction and mental health supports
• monitors the health of the Indigenous population in northern Alberta

The program also:

• helps Indigenous patients and families throughout their hospital stay
• connects them to the health services and programs in their home communities
• works within communities to create partnerships in areas of public health, prevention, promotion, and chronic disease management

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.

Office of the Medical Officer of Health

The MOH is responsible for:

• The overall health of Albertans
  monitoring and reporting (to the public and to the Health Authority Board) on the health status of the population. This is done through health and disease surveillance. Advocate for changes in policy that will improve the health of residents (e.g., smoking by-laws, bicycle trail systems, intersection safety and red light campaigns).
• Communicable Disease Control
  Works to control the spread of communicable diseases and manage outbreaks. Also responsible for STD and TB follow-up and control, and for infection control in the community. For immunization information visit https://www.immunizealberta.ca/
• Safe and Healthy Environments
  Gives direction to Environmental Health service programs to ensure food safety, safety and minimum standards for housing, daycares, swimming pools, etc. and to programs that promote healthy physical environments. Report a concern or request service from AHS EPH (Environmental Public Health) at https://ephisahs.albertahealthservices.ca/create-case/
• Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention
  Responsible for chronic disease prevention (heart disease, obesity, stroke) for injury prevention, healthy aging, and preventing low birthweight in babies
• To ask a question or send a message about a government program or service: Alberta Health, visit https://www.alberta.ca/contact.cfm#jumplinks-3.

Medical Officer of Health | Alberta Health Services

Postpartum Depression Support

Supports women and families experiencing postpartum depression (PPD).

Pregnancy Testing

Information and counselling is offered for birth control and sexually transmitted infections.

Prenatal Classes

For more information visit our website at Prenatal – North Zone. Classes may be in the evenings or on Saturdays. Please be advised not all locations offer all services.

Services include:

• prenatal classes
• prenatal breast-feeding classes
• information sessions are available through AHS public health
• prenatal information sessions are offered via Zoom once a month
• a chance to meet other people in the community expecting a baby
• knowledge of what to expect during your labor and delivery
• breathing and relaxation techniques
• immunization and infant safety information
• providing your support person with the skills to help with labor and delivery
• increased breastfeeding knowledge
• newborn and postpartum care
• what resources are available for yourself and your newborn
• answer questions about your pregnancy, diet, and childbirth plans

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 - Immunizations

Public Health Nurses provide immunization and follow-up services to clients of all ages.
· Routine vaccinations (2, 4, 6, 12, 18 months and 4 years of age)
· Communicable Disease Control
After vaccination & immunization follow-up and care

Community Health Centres | Alberta Health Services

Public Health - Oral Health

Our goal is to improve the oral health of people of all ages, in the North Zone (all Areas). A healthy mouth is an important piece in a person's overall health. Healthy teeth and gums support good nutrition, speech, growth, development, learning, and social development.This program offers:

Targeted School Services: Fluoride varnish applications, oral health assessments and referrals, sealant applications, classroom education, and resource provision. These services are targeted to schools identified with students at oral health risk. Services may vary across the North Zone.

Preschool Program:
Fluoride varnish applications, oral health assessments and referrals for eligible children 12-35 months old. Services may vary across the North Zone.

Community Education: Education for health professionals, community leaders, parent groups and other community groups to promote oral health. Information on fluoride and private well water sampling to determine fluoride levels available. Services may vary across the North Zone.

Public Health - Sexual Reproductive Health

North Zone Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinics are seeing clients in the clinic, for the following concerns: · Birth control and safer sex counseling · Pregnancy testing and pregnancy options counseling. · KNOWN STI and needs treatment. · Contact with a known STI and needs testing/treatment. · Symptoms of an STI · Routine STI Screening · Emergency contraceptive pill · Vaccinations Not all services are available at all locations. Contact each clinic to check what services they offer.

School Health Program

Provides healthcare in schools.

Services include:

• immunizations
• education and consultations about contagious diseases

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.

Traffic Safety

Community Health Services staff, local RCMP and local traffic safety partners work together to improve the wear rates of seat belts and child safety seats and support safe driving.

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.

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.