NEWS RELEASE

Alberta introduces better access to hip and knee replacements

Pilot project expected to reduce wait times and improve health outcomes

April 8, 2005

Edmonton... A pilot project in three regions is expected to provide better access to hip and knee replacements and improve the overall way orthopaedic care is delivered in Alberta. During the one-year pilot, 1,200 additional hip and knee surgeries will be performed.

"This project is an important step in improving access to services for Albertans," said Iris Evans, Minister of Health and Wellness. "The innovative new model of care has been in development for more than two years, led by a dedicated team of orthopaedic surgeons working closely with health region and ministry staff. I am confident the result will be a marked reduction in waiting times and improved health outcomes for patients. What we learn in this pilot can be applied to other specialty areas in the future."

Under the pilot, patients will be assessed at a central clinic, streamlining the referral process and reducing the number of patients inappropriately referred for surgery. Those patients requiring surgery will then be cared for by a physician in advance of and following surgery. This should help to ensure patients are healthy enough for surgery as they near their surgical date and result in fewer patients having to reschedule. It should also ensure a smoother recovery process.

"By streamlining the booking function, patients can be referred to the most appropriate surgeon with the shortest waiting list," said Tracy Wasylak, Co-chair of the Provincial Arthroplasty Working Committee, responsible for planning and administering the pilot. "In addition, our streamlined process will increase the number of surgeries and reduce the length of stay for each patient."

The project will cost $20 million, which the Alberta government will fund from the $700 million in health renewal investments announced in June 2004.

The Capital, Calgary and David Thompson Health Regions will participate in the pilot along with the Alberta Medical Association, the Alberta Orthopaedic Society and the Alberta Bone & Joint Health Institute.

Assessment clinics in Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary are now operational. The multi-disciplinary teams at each of the three clinics are assessing patients using standardized criteria to determine suitability for surgery.

The project involves 13 orthopaedic surgeons province-wide. It is expected that the first of the surgeries under the pilot will commence in early May. The surgeries will take place in a designated facility in each region: the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Red Deer Regional Hospital and the Health Research Centre in Calgary. Post project evaluations will assess health system and patient health outcome improvements.

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For further information contact:

Alberta Health & Wellness David Deer, Communications (780) 427-5207	Alberta Medical Association Ronald A. Kustra Assistant Executive Director (780) 482-2626
Alberta Bone & Joint Health Institute Len Cocolicchio Chief, Communications (403) 670-0886	Calgary Health Region Sandy Depiero Public Affairs (403) 943-3877
Provincial Arthroplasty Working Committee Tracy Wasylak Co-chair (403) 943-3873	Capital Health Ronna Bremer Public Affairs (780) 735-5311
David Thompson Health Region Elaine McFadden Public Affairs (403) 341-8625

Dial 310-0000 for toll free access outside Edmonton. Access is available on-line at http://www.health.gov.ab.ca