One province, one healthcare system: A decade of healthcare transformation in Alberta

Abstract

Nearly a decade has passed since Alberta folded nine regional health authorities and three government agencies into one province-wide health system: Alberta Health Services (AHS). Deemed a reckless experiment by some at the time, there is now mounting evidence province-wide integration of services across the healthcare continuum is an enabler of improved quality, safety, and financial sustainability. The article highlights specific examples of how AHS is strengthening partnerships, standardizing best practices, and driving innovation, making Alberta a national and international leader in areas such as stroke care and potentially inappropriate use of antipsychotics in long-term care. It also shows how province-wide integration is being leveraged to build workplace culture, enhance patient safety, and find operational efficiencies that result in cost savings and cost avoidance.