2023 Annual Report

Looking Forward

Surgery teams bringing new innovations to care

Nose Hill Siksikaitsitapi Medicine Wheel in Calgary

The Cardiac CathLab offers minimally-invasive interventions Supportive care for all mobilities

Surgery Transforming innovation in the OR and beyond

Indigenous Health Promoting greater health equity and culturally appropriate care

Cardiac Care Getting to the heart of the matter

Seniors Health Growing older together

By 2030, an estimated 20% of Alberta’s population will be over the age of 65. And, while we don’t like to think about it, the reality is that aging has a significant impact on physical and mental health. But, there is no ‘typical’ older person. Some maintain the physical and mental health of someone much younger; others have a history or genetic disposition to disease and complex conditions. Many experience socioeconomic and environmental factors that create additional challenges in their wellness as they get older. Some break bones and recover – others do not. As our population ages and people live longer, we will need to be innovative in how we meet the unique and wide-ranging challenges seniors face when it comes to health, including promoting wellness and independence as well as focus on superior care delivery. Aging is something we all do, but healthier aging requires the right investments. Let’s grow older together.

One minute you may be happily going about your day – and the next, you can be fighting for your life. This is the harsh reality of cardiovascular disease, the number one global killer for both men and women and the second leading cause of death in Canada. When cardiac issues arise, time is of the essence: every heartbeat matters. That’s why Calgary Health Foundation is partnering with University of Calgary’s Libin Cardiac Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, and Alberta Health Services to launch From the Heart , an initiative to advance cardiovascular health in the Calgary Zone. Together, we have identified strategic investments in research, leadership, programs, and innovative equipment that will be game-changing for all Calgarians. At the heart of it, we are working tirelessly to change the trajectory of cardiovascular health for future generations, while advancing knowledge and enhancing clinical care to protect you and your loved ones today.

Today, approximately 70,000 Albertans are waiting for surgeries. Many are in pain. Many may not return to the quality of life they once enjoyed. Some are living with the uncertainty of their diagnosis or outcome possible. Their needs expand all areas of care and all specialties. They all understand that there is a long road ahead, which will include extensive healing and rehabilitation following their surgical appointment. Innovation in surgery is what allows for new procedures, more minimally invasive techniques, an increase in possible interventions for complex conditions and enhanced support for patients throughout their care journey. The best patient outcomes in surgery will involve more than the government’s investment in improved access; it will involve a partnership with the community’s philanthropic support for the ideas that allow Albertans to receive care quicker, have shorter recovery times and receive intervention in ways that are on the cutting edge.

Health inequities facing many Indigenous peoples are in large part the result of the system and process of colonialism that disrupted the complex political, social, and economic systems of Indigenous peoples. This resulted in several unjust and avoidable differences in social, economic, and environmental circumstances otherwise known as the social determinants of health. Indigenous peoples have rich and complex healing and wellness traditions that have sustained and supported their nations since time immemorial. There are countless strong Indigenous voices in Alberta that have kept these vital traditions alive and have sought to guide AHS on Indigenous health. Through the Indigenous Wellness Core program, AHS aims to foster lasting and meaningful relationships with Indigenous people here in Alberta. The focus is to eliminate racism and close the gap in accessing health care while supporting and elevating Indigenous healing and wellness practices in all ways possible, working in collaboration with Indigenous care providers and elders to provide a level of care that is world-class.