Healthcare news · Alberta
Funding, legislation and system changes from the province and Ottawa.
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The Alberta government is providing $5 million to Bow Valley College to develop a proposal for a new Health Care Centre of Excellence. This funding will support project design and cost estimation to potentially expand training programs for nurses, pharmacy technicians, health care aides, and therapy assistants.
Official source: Government of Alberta (opens in a new tab)
The Enoch maskêkosihk Recovery Community has been completed with $35 million in provincial capital funding. The 75-bed facility provides no-cost, culturally grounded addiction treatment for up to 300 people annually in the Edmonton region. Treatment services are scheduled to begin this December, offering support for up to one year.
You can now refer patients in the Edmonton area to this new facility for long-term, culturally grounded addiction treatment starting this December.
Official source: Government of Alberta (opens in a new tab)
Starting November 1, 2026, Alberta optometrists with specialized training may perform minor surgical and laser procedures, including stye treatments and skin lesion removal. These regulatory changes aim to reduce wait times and travel for patients. Ophthalmologists will focus on complex cases as optometrists take on these additional community-based services under new oversight standards.
If you are an ophthalmologist, you may see fewer referrals for minor procedures as qualified optometrists begin providing these services in their own clinics.
Official source: Government of Alberta (opens in a new tab)
Alberta has increased acute care capacity to over 9,000 spaces, including 221 permanent beds and 194 temporary beds. The province also launched a Provincial Integrated Operations Centre to coordinate resources and a Triage Liaison Physician program to place doctors in emergency waiting areas. Additionally, hospitals are implementing automated daily staffing reports to improve resource management.
You may see triage physicians in emergency waiting areas and use new automated staffing reporting tools to help manage seasonal patient surges.
Official source: Government of Alberta (opens in a new tab)
The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta has released a new policy regarding the use of chaperones during clinical encounters. The policy outlines expectations for trained chaperones to observe sensitive examinations to enhance patient trust and professional standards. Medical offices must ensure chaperones are appropriately trained and integrated into clinic workflows.
If your practice requires a chaperone, you must ensure they are CPSA-approved and trained through MacEwan University or PBI Education.
Official source: College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (opens in a new tab)
Health Quality Alberta has published a guide and toolkit designed to foster civility within health care environments. These materials aim to support safer care outcomes by improving professional interactions.
You can access the new guide and toolkit through Health Quality Alberta to help improve team communication and safety in your workplace.
Official source: Alberta College of Pharmacy (opens in a new tab)
