Alberta health dashboard will share data with public

EDMONTON – Alberta has launched a dashboard that will share surgery volumes and wait times, cervical cancer screening rates, and other acute care metrics. The province says this will give Albertans direct, clear, accessible insight into how care is deliver in their communities and how the system is performing on outcomes that directly impact patients.

The dashboard will be rolled out in phases, starting with surgical data that includes comparisons across all Alberta facilities. In the next few weeks, the province says it will be expanded to include primary care indicators.

Over time, it will also include data on assisted living, mental health, and addiction.

“Albertans deserve to know how their health care system is performing. This dashboard puts patients first, clearly shows key results and holds the system accountable,” said Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange (pictured). “It will continue to grow, adding new measures to give Albertans a fuller picture of how care is delivered across the province.”

Also included is an interactive map of acute care facilities across Alberta that perform surgeries, highlighting the number and types of procedures completed at each site.

Once all the roll out phases are complete, the data will be updated monthly.

The province says making this information easy to access for Albertans will empower healthcare workers and identifies opportunities for improvement.

The metrics detailed on the health system dashboard were decided using feedback from healthcare refocusing engagement sessions, according to the government.

This comes as the province continues to receive criticism over its handling of the respiratory illness season.

Last week, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Services, Matt Jones, said Alberta’s hospitals are operating at 102 per cent. However, he denied poor planning by the government is to blame.