Keeping quality rural health care close to home

The Crowsnest Pass Health Centre continues to play a key role in rural health care by providing local access to emergency, acute and ambulatory care while connecting residents to specialized services in larger centres.

Kristen Anderson, senior advisor for issues management and media relations with Alberta Health Services, said the health centre is part of a wider rural health network intended to support residents outside major urban areas.

“The Crowsnest Pass Health Centre, along with other rural and non-urban sites funded/operated by Alberta Health Services (AHS) across the province, strives to provide equitable access to health services for Albertans living outside the larger centres,” said Anderson.

She said that work includes “access to a wide spectrum of acute and ambulatory care, as well as a pathway for referrals to specialized treatment at urban hospitals in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton.”

Anderson said residents should know the local health centre provides more than emergency care, though emergency services remain a major part of the site’s role in the community.

“We are here to help, no matter when you need it,” said Anderson. “The CPHC Emergency Department (ED) provides 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week lifesaving care for residents and the many visitors to the region.”

Beyond the emergency department, Anderson said the Crowsnest Pass Health Centre offers programs and services that allow residents to receive care closer to home. She pointed to hemodialysis, labour delivery and maternal child services, speech language pathology, laboratory services and general surgery as examples of local care available through the site.

“But there’s much more to health service delivery,” said Anderson. “Programs such as hemodialysis, labour delivery and maternal child, speech language pathology, laboratory services, and general surgery allow residents to stay close to home while receiving care.”

For rural communities, Anderson said access often depends on a combination of local services, regional support and referral pathways. She said not every specialized service can be offered in every rural community, which makes partnerships and outreach programs important.

“Because it isn’t possible to have specialized care in every rural community, AHS, along with our partner organizations like Primary Care Alberta, utilize platforms like the Breast Cancer Screening Program, which provides mobile screening units to on-site locations and to women in more than 100 communities in rural Alberta,” said Anderson.

She said telehealth also helps reduce travel for rural patients by allowing people to connect with health care professionals for appointments, consultations, follow ups, meetings and educational sessions.

“Clinical telehealth services also allow individuals to connect with health-care professionals for appropriate clinical appointments, consults, follow ups, meetings and educational sessions without having to travel,” said Anderson.

Residents with non-emergency health questions can also call Health Link Alberta at 811, which Anderson said is available at all hours. In emergencies, she said residents should call 911.

Anderson said one of the central challenges in rural health care is that each community has different needs. Geography, distance and weather can all affect how services are delivered in places like Crowsnest Pass.

“Alberta’s rural communities are all unique,” said Anderson. “Each one has its own set of needs, and the added challenges of geography, distance and climate, means a one-size-fits-all approach to health care does not best meet the needs of communities like the Crowsnest Pass.”

She said local leadership helps tailor health services to meet community needs, while nearby sites also work together to support a wider area. Anderson said Crowsnest Pass Health Centre often works with Pincher Creek Health Centre to balance resources and support patients in the region.

“To address this, local leadership is empowered to tailor services to the community,” said Anderson. “Sites in neighbouring communities also regularly work together to support the greater area and balance resources, as CPHC often does with the Pincher Creek Health Centre.”

Anderson also highlighted the role of health care workers during Health Week and National Nursing Week, saying staff are central to the health system’s ability to provide care.

“We know our staff are our most valuable asset and essential in our ability to provide high quality health care to Albertans,” said Anderson. “Through National Nursing Week and the rest of the year, we want to say thank you for the unwavering dedication and leadership in supporting our sites and delivering patient-centred care.”

Looking ahead, Anderson said AHS is working to respond to the changing needs of rural communities. In Crowsnest Pass, she said emergency department demand increases during the summer months as more tourists visit the area.

“Ensuring Albertans have access to healthcare in their community is of utmost importance to AHS,” said Anderson.

She said AHS has developed a community and rural health planning framework with engagement from Albertans to help guide future decisions.

“This framework will guide decision-making using evidence-based data, including demographics and population health statistics, to help us tailor service delivery to meet the unique needs of a community,” said Anderson.

She added that local feedback remains an important part of understanding health care needs in rural communities.

“We also recognize that local stakeholders can help us gain a clear understanding of local needs, and we welcome feedback to help us better serve the community,” said Anderson.

Residents looking for care can access local emergency services through the Crowsnest Pass Health Centre, call 811 for non-emergency health questions or call 911 in an emergency.