Alberta 3-year health plan targets community-based care

Alberta Health Services is directing moremoney into nursinghomes and medical care in smaller centres in the province, according to its2013-2016 Health and Business Plans released today.

Next year the province will spend 10 per cent more on community-based care, adding 5,300more continuing care, palliative and hospice beds by 2015. Some of the money wil go towardsimproving access to primary care in smaller centres.

The province also put more money towardsnursing care in hospitals (4.6 per cent) and emergency departments (6.4 per cent) in an effort to reduce wait times.

AHSwill alsoput $245 million toward new projects, such as additional neonatal intensive care spaces at Alberta Childrens Hospital in Calgary and the opening of a new cancer centre in Red Deer.

The province said some of the new spending willbe freed upby introducinghiring limits, reducing administrative costs and non-clinical activities,cuttingpart-time staff,closing hospital bedsduring the slowdown in surgeriesover in summer months, and closing hospital beds being used by patients waiting for continuing care beds.

CEO Dr. Chris Eagle said AHS wants to save $220 million this year out of an overall budget of $13.4 billion.