AHS Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Alberta Health Services
Practice, talks with Jessica Stembridge and Victoria Baxter, two Alberta Health Services Registered Dietitians that work at the Pediatric Centres for Wellness and Health. With many years of experience supporting families through behaviour change to promote healthy child growth, Jessica and Victoria share insights from their clinical practice.Topics include: Common questions and concerns raised by parents and families during dietitian visits Challenging situations encountered when working with parents and families in pediatric obesity care Practical advice for registered dietitians new to pediatric obesity care and behaviour change counselling Recommended resources for healthcare providers and the families they supportHelpful Resources: Craving Change® resources on hunger types: https://www.cravingchange.ca/4kids/ Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility: https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/how-to-feed/division-of-responsibility/* Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation – Weight-Related Conversation Resources. Parent Guide and Health Provider Casebook: https://hollandbloorview.ca/research-education/bloorview-research-institute/research-centres-labs/weight-related-conversations
Practice, sits down with Dr. Raylene Reimer, Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary, Registered Dietitian, and leading nutrition researcher. Together, they explore emerging research on menopause, gut health, and metabolism, and the important role nutrition plays for women’s health during midlife. Topics include: What the MOMENTUM study is revealing about menopause, metabolism, and women’s health How nutrition can support common menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep disruption, and weight changes The impact of menopause on long-term health risks, including heart, bone, muscle, and gut health Key emerging research areas dietitians should have on their radar Continue the conversation: Learn more about the MOMENTUM Study at the University of Calgary.https://www.ucalgary.ca/research/momentum Explore the science of fermented foods, gut health, and Canadian research at fermentedfoods.cahttps://fermentedfoods.ca/
Practice, speaks with Robin Lucciantonio, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator at the Garneau Endocrinology Clinic in Edmonton. Together, they explore Robin’s approach to diabetes care and how her commitment to collaboration, equity and person-centred practice contributed to her receiving the Diabetes Impact Award from the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. Topics include: •How Robin’s professional and personal experiences have shaped her approach to collaboration and person-centered care. •The application of harm reduction principles in nutrition care and diabetes management, emphasizing flexibility and alignment with people’s goals and lived experience.•A compelling case example illustrating efforts to support equitable access to advanced diabetes technologies, including automated insulin deliver (AID) systems.For more information about Robin’s November 2025 poster presentation at Diabetes Canada titled “Looping while Blind” go to https://theglucoseneverlies.com/roger-t1d-journey/
Length: 25 minutesWith rising financial strain and food insecurity, dietitians face unique challenges in supporting health goals while acknowledging real-life circumstances. In this episode, host Kally Cheung sits down with Janine Whyte, a Registered Dietitian and Team Lead with Alberta Health Services, to explore practical strategies for navigating sensitive conversations about affordability, building trust, and meeting clients where they are at.Key Takeaways:•Why assumptions can harm care, and what to do instead•How thoughtful questions opens doors to meaningful dialogue•Understanding that other life challenges often take precedence and how flexibility builds trust Want to learn more?Discover tools and resources to support patients living with financial strain and food insecurity at www.ahs.ca/foodinsecurity.https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/nutrition/Page18033.aspx
Practice, continues the conversation with Wendy Busse, a registered dietitian and leading expert in food sensitivities. Building on the foundation from Part 1, Wendy shares practical strategies for supporting clients who may have conditioned reactions to food.Topics include:• How to approach food sensitivities with empathy and respect• Explaining conditioned food sensitivity in simple, relatable terms• Helping clients recognize the impact of dietary restrictions on quality of life• Strategies for gradual, safe reintroduction of foods and fostering food freedomThis episode emphasizes the importance of compassionate counseling and small, achievable steps that can make a significant difference in clients’ lives.Learn more:•FAST Freedom Program Website https://fastfreedomprogram.com/•Screening Tool: Are you Stuck in the C-FAST?https://fastfreedomprogram.com/courses/free/lessons/c-fast-model/topics/are-you-stuck-in-the-c-fast/
Nutrition offerings in the SHC Wellness Centre Virtual Program Guide. These classes offer opportunities for Albertans to learn more about health food preparation, mindful eating and good nutrition.
In this episode, host Kim Young, Provincial Practice Lead with Professional Education & Practice, has a conversation with Carlene Johnson Stoklossa, a Registered Dietitian and Team Lead with Alberta Health Services. Together, they explore Carlene’s professional journey as a dietitian and researcher, and insights into the importance of recognizing sarcopenia obesity in chronic disease management. Topics include: •The benefits and challenges of getting involved with research and moving evidence into practice.•Being curious and open to opportunities throughout one’s professional journey.•Insights into how sarcopenic obesity may be identified in a variety of chronic or metabolic diseases.Carlene’s recent publication:Sarcopenic Obesity in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Scoping Review - Vieira - Obesity Reviews - Wiley Online Library https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/obr.13973
In this insightful episode, host Stephanie Cox, Provincial Practice Lead with Professional Education & Practice, welcomes Wendy Busse, a registered dietitian and leading expert in food sensitivities. Together, they explore how dietitians can effectively support clients struggling with food sensitivities. Topics include: • Wendy’s journey to becoming a respected voice in food sensitivity practice• Understanding conditioned food avoidance and sensitivity• Recognizing red flags and responding to unvalidated food sensitivity tests that often lead to unnecessary diet restrictionsThis conversation is just the beginning, Wendy will return for Part 2, where she’ll dive deeper into strategies for engaging clients who may have conditioned responses to food. Learn more:• FAST Freedom Program website https://fastfreedomprogram.com/
In this inspiring episode, dietetic interns Sukhdeep Kaur and Lore Pasaran Ugarte from the University of Alberta, sit down with five outstanding Registered Dietitians - Erin Montgomery-Fajic, Kristy Landry, Dave Dyjur, Staci Fudge, and Adela Delgado - who have been recognized by previous interns for their excellent mentorship and precepting.Together, they explore what sets these mentors apart and share insights into creating meaningful and supportive learning environments. Topics include:•Navigating virtual placements with confidence•Personalizing learning experiences to meet diverse needs•Collaborating through twinset and tripleset placements•Fostering a growth mindset in emerging professionalsWhether you're a current intern, a seasoned RD, or simply passionate about mentorship, this episode offers valuable perspectives on cultivating excellence in dietetic education.Learn more about careers as a Registered Dietitian in Alberta:•Dietetics Specialization | Undergraduate Programhttps://www.ualberta.ca/en/undergraduate-programs/bachelor-of-science-in-nutrition-and-food-science-dietetics-specialization.html•Dietitian | Alberta Health Serviceshttps://www.albertahealthservices.ca/careers/Page11759.aspx
In this episode, Lisa Mowers, Provincial Practice Lead with Nutrition Services, sits down with Dr. Donna Vine, Professor of Human Nutrition and Academic Lead and Chair of Nutrition and Dietetics programs at the University of Alberta. We explore key aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome including:•the connection between mental health and eating disorders•why routine screening for disordered eating is essential•new patient-centred pathways for more effective careDr. Vine shares her inspiring leadership of PCOS Together https://pcos.together.ualberta.ca/, a groundbreaking program advancing PCOS research, promoting health equity, and empowering better care. Tune in and discover how dietitians can make a powerful impact supporting clients with this complex condition.Learn more:•Provincial PCOS Primary Care Clinical Pathwayhttps://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/aph/if-aph-prov-pcos-primary-care-clinical-pathway.pdf•Summary - Your Journey with PCOS - Patient Pathwayhttps://myhealth.alberta.ca/HealthTopics/pcos-pathway/Documents/pcos-pathway-summary.pdf•Addressing a Possible Eating Disorder - Point of Care Referencehttps://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-pocr-addressing-possible-eating-disorder.pdf
In this episode, host Stephanie Cox, Provincial Practice Lead with Professional Education & Practice, sits down with Sarah Frank Nichols, Provincial Lead with Public Health Nutrition, to explore their shared experiences with the "Food is Our Medicine" learning journey. They reflect on the:•personal and professional impact of the course,•importance of Indigenous teachings, and•power of small, meaningful actions in advancing truth and reconciliation.Through heartfelt conversation, they encourage listeners to embrace curiosity, engage in dialogue, and take steps (big or small) toward understanding and change.Learn more:•Nutrition Services Reconciliation Action Statementhttps://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-reconciliation-action-statement.pdf•Nourish: Food is Our Medicinehttps://nourishleadership.ca/programs/food-is-our-medicine/
In this episode, Jennifer Alexander, Program Director with Nutrition Services, sits down with Heidi Bates, Director of the Integrated Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Alberta. Heidi shares:•her journey to become a leader in field of dietetics,•what it means to be “fierce” in our profession, and•the exciting changes taking place at University of Alberta.She also explains how the partnership with Alberta Health Services has enriched the training of students and offers pearls of wisdom for dietitians eager to shape the next generation. Get ready for an inspiring, fun, and candid conversation that’s sure to spark new ideas and energy in your own professional journey!Learn more about careers as a Registered Dietitian in Alberta:•Dietetics Specialization | Undergraduate Programwww.ualberta.ca/en/undergraduate-programs/bachelor-of-science-in-nutrition-and-food-science-dietetics-specialization.html•Dietitian | Alberta Health Serviceswww.albertahealthservices.ca/careers/Page11759.aspx
Debbie Pinter, Connect Care Clinical Informatics Officer, helps us unpack the technology on the tip of everyone’s tongue: Artificial Intelligence. Find out how our powerful EMR is already setting Alberta nurses up for success.
In this podcast, Lisa Mowers, AHS Provincial Practice Lead, dives into the question, "Does food impact mood?". She is joined by Dr. Elnaz Vaghef Mehrabani, a seasoned nutrition researcher who is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Calgary and is an instructor at Athabasca University and Mount Royal University.Some of the topics explored in this podcast:•What the evidence tells us right now about how food is impacting mood and mental well-being.•How nutrition impacts our mood at different stages of life, including prenatal and early childhood development.•Current research on the Mediterranean style diet and healthy eating aligning with Canada’s food guide to help people with mental health concerns.•Practical tips for a person-centred approach when helping client use food to improve their mood.
In this episode, Vickie and Tyler talk about the last quarter century in nursing and what may come in future! Nursing is unique profession. At AHS, our first contact with nurses begins in their student rotation, continues through their new grad orientation, and throughout their career into informal and formal leadership roles. What better way to understand those experiences than to have our AHS nurses share them. In this bite sized, playful and safe space, nurses talk about their careers and experiences, so they can have a bit of fun, relate, and connect with their community. ‘This is Nursing’ was developed by Tyler Burley and Victoria Radford, Nursing Practice Leads who work in the Associate Chief Nursing Office at AHS.
In this episode, Vickie and Tyler interview Shannon Falsetti, a Nurse Clinician with the Medicine Program Improvement and Integration Network (PIN) and a pioneer in RN prescribing at AHS. Nursing is unique profession. At AHS, our first contact with nurses begins in their student rotation, continues through their new grad orientation, and throughout their career into informal and formal leadership roles. What better way to understand those experiences than to have our AHS nurses share them. In this bite sized, playful and safe space, nurses talk about their careers and experiences, so they can have a bit of fun, relate, and connect with their community. ‘This is Nursing’ was developed by Tyler Burley and Victoria Radford, Nursing Practice Leads who work in the Associate Chief Nursing Office at AHS.
In this episode, Vickie and Tyler interview Justin Burkett, Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary and Board Chair with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — explains why more adults are being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and how ADHD differs in adults compared to in children.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director of Addiction and Mental Health with AHS — discusses what mental health recovery looks like, and the resources and supports available along the way.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — AHS Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health — discusses risk factors for men’s suicide and what can be done to reduce those risks.
February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month. In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director of Addictions and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — discusses the different types of eating disorders and how people develop them.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about how shorter days can affect one's mental health and what can be done to prevent the 'winter blues.'
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director of Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about how too set attainable New Year's resolutions.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for AHS Addiction and Mental Health — talks about what people can do to have a healthy holiday season and positive way to focus on mental health during this time.
Nov. 20-24 is Bullying Awareness Week. In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with AHS — talks about the different types of bullying and how adults can support children who are being bullied.
Nov. 15 marked National Philanthropy Day, which recognizes philanthropic individuals and organizations across North America, and their exceptional contributions to the charitable sector.We are so grateful to our 70 foundation partners who support advancements to healthcare, including equipment, programs, services and research in our communities and across the province. Last year, our partners raised $363 million for healthcare. They also invested $104 million in support of local and system-wide AHS priorities and $29 million toward health research. We work closely with the foundations to make sure we are supporting shared goals, and investing these donated dollars where they will have the most impact.Joining the podcast to tell us more are:• Deborah McKinnon, President and CEO of the Mental Health Foundation.• Katrina Black, President and CEO of the Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation.• Manon Therriault, CEO, Red Deer Regional Health Foundation.
Guest: Emmanuel ArceneauxIn this episode, Vickie and Tyler interview Emmanuel Arceneaux, wide receiver for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). What does sport have to do with nursing? Tune in and find out.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with AHS — talks about how culture and diversity can affect mental health and how AHS supports people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with AHS — talks about how healthcare workers can take care of their mental health and how to de-stress at work.
The latest CEO podcast shines a spotlight on the importance of health information management.The AHS Health Information Management (HIM) team manages, maintains and provides support in all aspects of health information, from collection and use to access and disclosure. Their work touches or is touched by all AHS clinical and business services. HIM is woven throughout AHS in places such as switchboard, registration in a clinical setting, as well as record retention throughout the organization. This helps to facilitate healthcare delivery, patient safety and health- and business-related decision-making.Joining the podcast to tell us more are:• Kathleen Addison, Senior Provincial Director, Health Information Management.• Karen Carlson, Executive Director, Health Information Management, Operational Practice.
In this Mental Wellness Moment installment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for AHS Addiction and Mental Health — discusses the role boredom plays in maintaining good mental health and ‘recharging’ the brain.
This CEO Podcast shines a spotlight on one of our most innovative programs, eSIM—which stands for educate, simulate, innovate, motivate.Simulation facilities re-create clinical events enabling participants to practise their skills in an interactive, real-world experience with the chance to learn from mistakes without causing any harm.Last year, the program supported more than 2,100 simulation sessions involving around 18,500 learners—and 154 of these sessions took place in rural and remote areas. Their rural simulation training bridges the gap between theory and practice, equipping healthcare practitioners with vital skills for quality care delivery specific to rural needs.Joining the CEO Podcast to tell us more are:• Tara Fuselli, eSIM education program lead.• Anna Maria Mundell, rural simulation consultant.
The latest CEO Podcast highlights some of the great work that’s being done by the Indigenous Support Line.The support line is for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples, including youth and Elders, living on or off reserve, in a settlement or in cities and towns. It helps callers navigate the healthcare system, connect them with resources and cultural supports, and offers immediate support for addiction and mental health concerns.No call is turned away, and the Indigenous listener helps guide the caller through each step in the patient’s healthcare journey.This toll-free, confidential phone service is the first of its kind in Canada to connect Indigenous callers and service providers with Indigenous health professionals.Joining the podcast to tell us more are:•Andrea Jackson, program manager of the Indigenous Support Line.•Melissa Creyke, mental health therapist and Indigenous listener with the support line.
Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director with AHS Addiction and Mental Health — talks about supplements and vitamins, especially Vitamin D, and whether they can affect mental health.
Our People Survey opens Sept. 12, and is a chance for AHS staff and physicians to share thoughts on what it is like working at AHS and how our systems and actions are supporting patient safety.Joining the CEO Podcast to tell us more are:• Thora Eyford, Director of People Experience, Talent Management Strategies.• Deb Scharff, Director, Patient Safety Learning & Improvement.• Dr. Sharron Spicer, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Physician Experience.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about what causes sleep problems and how to sleep better.
Aug. 31, 2023, is International Overdose Awareness Day. In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health — talks about the importance of reducing stigma around addiction.
This week's CEO Podcast shines the spotlight on some important work being done at AHS to support children with pediatric feeding disorders. Difficulty eating and swallowing is associated with significant health risks and increased use of medical services, not to mention family stress.
The Pediatric Eating and Swallowing Project — or PEAS — is working to enhance and standardize interdisciplinary practice around eating, feeding and swallowing, to get the best outcomes for our patients and their families.
Over the past three years, their work has resulted in fewer emergency visits and hospitalizations due to pediatric feeding disorder, more families receiving a care plan, more timely access to services, and a high satisfaction rating from families.
Joining AHS President and CEO Mauro Chies to tell us more are: • Nancy Whelan, speech language pathologist, Children's Rehabilitation Services, Vermilion Community Health. • Dr. Justine Turner, medical lead of the Pediatric Home Nutrition Support Program.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about how getting outdoors, especially in green spaces, can improve one’s mental well-being.
The Summit: Marian and Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience opened in Calgary earlier this year. Joining the AHS Vlog to talk more about this youth mental health facility are program manager Ryan Clements and Saifa Koonar, President and CE) of the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about the importance of monitoring your mental health even after a disaster or emergency has passed. There can be a delayed response or reaction that requires attention or, in some cases, professional treatment.
As a healthcare organization, AHS is trusted with huge volumes of confidential information, and a lot of the work we do depends on our IT infrastructure. Every person at AHS has an important role to play in safeguarding privacy and information security in our organization—and that’s where InfoCare comes in.
InfoCare is the main source of support for privacy and information security matters at AHS, and it promotes organization-wide awareness of these key topics.
For the past month, we’ve been holding the first- nnual InfoCare celebration at AHS to recognize the importance of these topics. Joining the CEO Podcast to tell us more about the positive impact InfoCare has on AHS and how they support staff are:
• Victoria Lane, Chief Privacy Officer and Legal Counsel • Robert Martin, Chief Information Security Officer
This final episode for spring 2023 interviews expert Doug Gross who spends his time learning more about long COVID research, leading research studies and interpreting data around COVID-19 and long COVID.
Calgary’s new cancer centre opens next year, enabling patients to access to comprehensive cancer care services in a world-class facility. Joining the CEO Podcast to tell us more are Dr. Don Morris, Clinical Department Head of Oncology and Facility Medical Director for the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and the new cancer centre; and Wendy Beauchesne, CEO, Alberta Cancer Foundation.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with AHS — talks about the common phases that many people go through when dealing with a disaster.
Patients and families are at the heart of everything we do and it’s important they share their healthcare experiences with us. Their feedback helps improve our programs, services and the care we provide.
We encourage people to speak with their care team. They can also share their feedback with our Patient Relations department, which listens and responds with privacy and respect, gathers information and follows up on patient or family concerns.
There is also the Office of the Alberta Health Advocates through the Ministry of Health. It empowers Albertans to be effective advocates in their own health and healthcare, and provides support and advocates for a healthcare system that is responsive and accountable to the people being served.
Joining the AHS Podcast to talk about their roles are:
• Sharon Berry, Patient Concerns Officer & Executive Director, Patient Relations • Catherine Douglas, Health and Mental Health Advocate, Alberta Health.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with AHS — talks about common responses to stress in children and teenagers, and what adults can do to help young people deal with a disaster or emergency.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — says listening is key when helping family members or friends as they deal with a disaster or emergency.
Guest host Dr. Francois Belanger leads a discussion about how Right Care Alberta helps ensure Albertans receive the most appropriate care and achieve the best possible health outcomes. His guests are Dr. Donald Dick, Senior Medical Director, Improving Health Outcomes Together; and Michael Sidra, Senior Program Director, Improving Health Outcomes Together.
In our sixth episode, Shawna interviews three patients and explores the lessons they have learned through their long COVID journey, along with a patient and family advisor who’s able to relate her experiences working with sepsis with the current work being done to improve long COVID supports.
When a disaster or an emergency hits, it impacts everyone differently. Learn more from Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — AHS Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health — as he talks about how to protect your mental health during disasters, such as the wildfires.
In our fifth episode, we have a panel discussion with clinicians from specialty long COVID clinics to learn more about what each of their clinics are doing to support long COVID and which clinics are most appropriate for providers to refer to.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) Official Administrator Dr. John Cowell shares his thoughts on the progress AHS has made over the past few months, what he’s learned during that time, and the importance of a trusting culture.
On the AHS Vlog, three guests discuss the upcoming sixth launch of Connect Care, which includes a total of 208 sites.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about the mental health benefits of feeling bored.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about how culture and diversity can affect mental health.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about what healthcare workers can do — at work and at home — to protect their mental health.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about why mental health awareness is important, and how talking about your mental health can be beneficial.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about the mental health benefits of being outside and in green spaces.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about what causes sleep problems and offers advice on how to sleep better.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about the role certain vitamins play in improving your mental health.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about the importance of reducing stigma around addiction and the role Overdose Awareness Day plays in that.
Three AHS volunteers have been invited to the podcast to talk about their experiences. Joining are: oSylvia Advent, a volunteer in Grande Prairie. oDinithi Mudalige, a volunteer at Airdrie urgent care. oDavid Witten, a patient advocate at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about why good mental health is important for overall health.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about how the mental health benefits of volunteering and 'giving back.'
Alberta’s family caregivers contribute 647 million hours of unpaid care every year. This saves our healthcare system $12 billion a year.Joining the podcast to talk about the important work of caregivers are:•Dr. Jean Triscott, Division Director, Care of the Elderly, Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta•Dr. Sharon Anderson, research coordinator, Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, and caregiver to an AHS patient•Laurie Caforio, caregiver for an Alberta Health Services patient
Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director of Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about how volunteering can positively affect one's mental health. National Volunteer Week runs April 16-22.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addictions and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about the signs of caregiver stress and how to manage it. National Caregiver Day is April 4, 2023.
Guest: Susan AlvesIn this episode, Vickie and Tyler interview Susan Alves, Clinical Nurse Educator in home care, graduate student in the Master of Nursing program, and an advocate for mentorship in the nursing profession.
Healthcare is complex, and sometimes healthcare workers have to act in ways that don’t feel right. These situations can lead to feelings of guilt, self-doubt, anger or frustration. They might feel like they weren’t able to deliver the best possible care due to factors out of their control. This is what moral distress looks like. Talking about moral distress and ways AHS can address it are: •Victoria Seavilleklein, Clinical Ethicist for the Central Zone •Thora Eyford, Director of People Experience, Talent Management Strategies •Michelle Bairstow, Interim Lead of Project Management, Workplace Health and Safety
Joining the AHS Podcast to discuss the importance of women’s health are Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation; and Dr. Jane Schulz, Professor and Chair Dept Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alberta Women's Health Foundation Endowed Chair, Lois Hole Hospital for Women.
Today, we’d like to highlight the work of our pharmacy professionals across AHS, an essential part of our healthcare system. Pharmacy professionals have used their full scopes of practice for years to enhance and expand patient care in Alberta. Joining the AHS Podcast to tell us more are Tania Mysak, Interim Executive Director, Provincial Operations, Pharmacy; and pharmacist Steven Freriks, Clinical Practice Leader, Central Zone.
AHS is working to improve EMS response times and ensure Albertans needing emergency care, get that care. EMS/811 Shared Response is one of the ways we’re working to address continued system pressures and create capacity within the EMS system. Joining the podcast to tell us more are: •Jim Garland, Associate Executive Director, EMS Dispatch and Communications. •Tricia Chambers, Senior Provincial Director, Virtual Care, Access and Navigation.
Jan. 30, 2023, will mark the third anniversary of the beginning of Alberta’s COVID-19 response. In this podcast, Dr. Laura McDougall offers a message of gratitude for the dedication of AHS staff and physicians.
Unique in Canada, RAAPID is an AHS call centre designed to provide a single point of contact for physicians and healthcare providers to access appropriate and timely advice, referral, admission, repatriation and consultation for patients. Joining the podcast to tell us more are: •John Montpetit, Provincial Director, RAAPID. •Tricia Chambers, Senior Provincial Director, Virtual Care, Access and Navigation.
Description: Listen to Elizabeth Thomas, Administrative Support with Employee Relations interview Patty Blake, CPSM OR Manager; Ray Ramkisson, Stores I; and Sam Shrestha, Stores I, who share what they do to contribute to a positive team culture.
Innovations in endoscopy are allowing AHS to track and identify trends over time and improve the quality of care we provide.
The AHS position statement on psychological health and safety ensures we’re all on the same page with the kind of workplaces we want to have, and that we all understand our individual and collective responsibilities in making that happen. Joining Interim AHS President and CEO Mauro Chies to tell us more are Dr. Sharron Spicer, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Physician Experience; Kathleen Fraser, Executive Director, Emergency Medical Services, Employee Programs; and Jennifer Yelland, Program Manager, Psychological Health and Safety.
In this episode, Vickie and Tyler interview Keith King, a registered nurse and instructor at the University of Alberta. Keith joins us to talk about Registered Nursing education and professionalism in 2022 and how our understanding of it has changed over the years.
Listen to Deb Gordon, Vice President for Clinical Operations and Chief Operating Officer share her best practices on supporting the wellbeing of her team, as well as what she does to engage them.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director of Addictions and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about what employers and employees can do to promote mental wellness in the workplace.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director of Addictions and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about the link between mental health and addiction, and how treatment looks if an individual has both mental health and addiction issues.
Dr. Nicholas Mitchell, AHS Provincial Medical Director for Addictions and Mental Health, talks about what people can do to support men's mental health.
The holiday season can be a time of joy, but it can also be a time of stress. For people who are grieving, the holiday season can make their feelings of loss more acute. In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — AHS Provincial Medical Director for Addictions and Mental Health — talks about how to maintain one's mental wellness during the holidays using strategies to lower stress and unrealistic expectations.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director for Addictions and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about how heart health can affect mental health, and vice versa.
In this Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell — Provincial Medical Director of Addictions and Mental Health with Alberta Health Services — talks about the connection between food and mood.
In the latest Mental Wellness Moment, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell, Provincial Medical Director of Addictions and Mental Health, talks about what people can do to support men’s mental health following the annual Movember campaign. Each November, the global event focuses on raising awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s suicide.
Dr. Alain Tremblay, Medical Lead of the Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Program, talks about lung cancer screening, why it’s important, and the two-year screening pilot that launched in September 2022. You can find more information about lung cancer screening and the pilot at screeningforlife.ca/lung/.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a disorder that's marked by symptoms of low mood, low energy, changes in sleep patterns and changes in appetite. For people in the northern hemisphere, those with SAD start exhibiting these symptoms in late October and early November when we start seeing significant reductions in daylight. In this Mental Wellness Moment podcast, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell, Provincial Medical Director of Addictions and Mental Health, explains what SAD is, and how it is diagnosed and treated.
In this episode, Vickie and Tyler interview Holly Sykora, RN, and second time guest to our podcast. Holly joins us one year after our inaugural episode with her to talk about COVID, coping, and taking care of ourselves, either at home or on the range.
Dr. Jean Mah, a pediatric neurologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, talks about spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and why it is so important to find SMA early through newborn screening. You can find more information about newborn screening and SMA at ahs.ca/newbornscreening.
Join host Shawna Curry as she interviews guests Dr. Christopher McCabe, Isabel Henderson and Simon Decary, to explore where long COVID started, what we can learn from current research, and where long COVID might be headed.
This is our third episode, where we’re going to interview healthcare professionals who have worked in programs that use innovative and creative solutions to support patients with long COVID.
Host Shawna Curry, interviews healthcare professionals across different disciplines to get a better understanding of what it’s like to treat patients with a new chronic condition that we are still learning about. We’ll explore their thoughts around what patients wish healthcare providers knew and discuss opportunities for care going forward.
Continue the conversation with Diana Verrier and Jody Walker as they discuss the mental health signs that something is wrong, and tips to support others and yourself during the time.
Description: Host, Shawna Curry, interviews guests to uncover some of the faces behind long COVID. She dives into the personal stories of how long COVID has affected people differently and will explore into how this understanding can inform healthcare professionals in their practice.
In this episode, Vickie and Tyler interview Tracy King, RN, Nursing Instructor at Grand Prairie Regional College and RN at the AHS Norther Addiction Center. Tracy reminds us to always remember our why in nursing, that we can’t look after our patients if we don’t look after each other and so much more in this episode celebrating Mental Health Awareness month.
Nursing is unique profession. At AHS, our first contact with nurses begins in their student rotation, continues through their new grad orientation, and throughout their career into informal and formal leadership roles. What better way to understand those experiences than to have our AHS nurses share them. In this bite sized, playful and safe space, nurses talk about their careers and experiences, so they can have a bit of fun, relate, and connect with their community.
‘This is Nursing’ was developed by Tyler Burley and Victoria Radford, Nursing Practice Leads who work in the Associate Chief Nursing Office at AHS.
EMS Chief Paramedic Darren Sandbeck is joined by Kathleen Fraser, Marty Scott, Dale Weiss and Dr Mark MacKenzie to provide an update on five key challenges EMS is facing, as well as some work that is underway to help deal with an unprecedented increase in call volume.
Welcome to the AHS Strategic Clinical Networks Podcast. In this episode Tracy Wasylak and Braden Manns talk about SCN priorities and initiatives; updates to the website; key pandemic response accomplishments; and also address working from home/returning to the office, and the COVID Playbook.
If you have comments or suggestions, please send them to Mikie.Mork@ahs.ca.
Experts in pediatric care discuss comfort techniques for teenagers who are nervous about getting needles.
In this episode Tracy Wasylak and Braden Manns talk about SCN priorities; updates to the website – including current status and key accomplishments; and also address important COVID related measures and initiatives such as – working from home, AHS vaccination mandate, staff quarantine, and the COVID Playbook.
AHS is here when you need care. As Dr. Bruce Wright explains, know where to get the right care for you, by visiting ahs.ca/options.
AHS is here when you need care. As Dr. Neil Collins explains, know where to get the right care for you, by visiting ahs.ca/options.
AHS is here when you need care. As Eddy Lang explains, know where to get the right care for you, by visiting ahs.ca/options.
Welcome to the Alberta Health Services podcast. In this episode, Provincial Dental Public Health Officer Dr. Rafael Figueiredo talks about the importance of community water fluoridation. Recently AHS launched a public education campaign on the benefits of fluoridated tap water ahead of the City of Calgary’s fluoride plebiscite this fall. On Oct. 18, Calgary residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether to restore fluoride to the city's drinking water.
Guest: Joshua McCutcheon, BScN, Healthcare Improvement
How does a nurse transition from the frontline to a role in quality & healthcare improvement as a design consultant? Josh is going to give us some intel and inspiration to take steps towards incorporating quality work and innovation into our nursing careers.
Indigenous worldviews or “ways of knowing” that date back thousands of years, are learned through storytelling, and are inherently practiced. A core worldview is the concept of “interconnectedness”. It is the belief of indigenous people that everything in the universe is connected. Every creature, plant and even object has a purpose and is respected and cared for. This embraces the notion that people are tightly connected to their communities, ancestors, and future generations. So when immunization access was a problem for rural communities, it was innate for the Siksika Nation to step up and launch a Rural COVID Vaccination Clinic in the spirit of protecting indigenous and non-indigenous brothers and sisters. The clinic was extended to Siksika Nation’s neighbouring municipalities of Strathmore, Gleichen, Wheatland County, Vulcan County and Newell County. And, when Calgary’s most vulnerable needed help. Siksika Nation, once again, stepped up to help its neighbors by providing a mobile immunization clinic to the homeless.
This landlocked province has it’s own currents and nursing students feel pulled with the ebb and flow of health care challenges Albertans face. In this podcast Ian will share his feelings about the importance of preceptorship in navigating and staying the course.
Guest: Ian Chaves, RN, BScN, MA (Communication Technology), Senior Practice Lead, Nursing Informatics, ACNO
The first days and weeks as a new graduate can be intimidating. In this podcast, we hear from a new grad RN who has found a place to grow her confidence… and now she’s got the right stuff.
It has been a wild year for all of us. In our inaugural podcast, we hear from a new mom and a pediatric nurse reflecting on the twists and turns of the year and what happens in nursing when a pandemic strikes. Guest: Holly Sykora, RN, BScN, BFA
Join Calgary Zone Patient & Family Centred Care consultant Kristy Leavitt in a candid discussion with AHS Patient/Family Advisors Maya Pajevic and Marisa Vigna about why meaningful patient engagement matters, what tokenistic engagement looks like (and why it’s a problem), and much more.
Resources mentioned during this episode: o Bird’s Eye View, by Sue Robins o Why We Revolt, by Victor Montori o Compassionomics, by Stephen Trzeciak & Anthony Mazzarelli o In Shock, by Rana Awdish o The Patient Revolution, by David Gilbert
Connect with Maya and Marisa on Twitter at @mayapajevic
EMS Chief Paramedic Darren Sandbeck is joined by Kathleen Fraser, Marty Scott, Dale Weiss and Dr Mark MacKenzie to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic response, PPE use, new medical opioid practice changes for EMS, as well as a new EMS culture assessment research project.
Join us as Kasey Aiello patient liaison for Neurosciences shares about the power of the lived experience and her role in supporting patients through the Cuming and Gillespie Peer Mentorship Program. Kasey will share her story of being a Spinal Cord Injury survivor and supporting patients and peers through mentorship. We will also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought forward new challenges and also new ways of doing things.
EMS Chief Paramedic Darren Sandbeck is joined by Kathleen Fraser, Marty Scott, Dale Weiss and Dr Mark MacKenzie to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic response, PPE use, new medical opioid practice changes for EMS, as well as a new EMS culture assessment research project.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Nicholas Etches, talks about the importance of ongoing COVID precautions and testing as the number of positive cases continue to grow across the province.
Professor Brian Dolan joins us for our inaugural Integrated Quality Management Podcast to celebrate Patient & Family Centred Care week.
Brian will be sharing his international work in making patient time the most important currency in health care. Specifically, he will be discussing two key initiatives that Brian has moved forward across the world #Last1000Days and #EndPJParalysis
Professor Brian Dolan created #EndPJParalysis and #Last1000Days campaigns which are about encouraging patients to get up, dressed and moving while in hospital and about valuing patient time in care as their last 1000 days begin.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, AHS Physiotherapist and Rehabilitation Advice Line supervisor, Kira Ellis, answers questions about the new call in service and talks about how it can support Albertans recovering from COVID-19.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Kristin Klein, AHS Medical Officer of Health with the Communicable Disease Team, talks about the importance of immunizations particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Masks play an important role in keeping Albertans safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in public spaces. But when, where and how should they be worn? In this video, Dr. Mark Joffe — Vice President & Medical Director of CancerControl Alberta, Clinical Support Services & Provincial Clinical Excellence with Alberta Health Services — explains how masks protect people from COVID-19 and answers common questions that Albertans have about wearing masks.
Dr. Richard Lewanczuk — Senior Medical Director for Health System Integration for Alberta Health Services — talks about the organization’s recent invitation to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare, and what that means for AHS and for Albertans.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Todd Gilchrist, AHS Vice President, People, and Nadine McRee, Executive Director of the Indigenous Health Program, talk about National Indigenous Peoples Day, the unique contribution of Indigenous peoples and culture to our province and healthcare system, and how we are celebrating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast.. In this episode, Daniel Muruve, Medical Director for Alberta Kidney Care South, answers question about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Albertans who need kidney dialysis.
Welcome to the Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Lana Potts, Medical Director at Elbow River Healing Lodge, talks about the challenges Alberta’s Indigenous communities are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to the Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Darren Sandbeck, AHS EMS Chief Paramedic, talks about the significance of recognizing National Paramedic Services Week during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to the Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Debrah Wirtzfeld, Associate Chief Medical Officer for Physician Health, Diversity and Wellness talks about the importance of physician wellness as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. It’s Speech and Hearing Month. In this episode, AHS speech pathologist Kerry Adams answers question about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Albertans living with speech, language and hearing needs and what they can do to stay safe and healthy.
Welcome to the Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Francois Belanger, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President, Quality, talks about the unique contribution of physicians to the province’s pandemic response, and their role in our health system during these uncertain times.
Welcome to the Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Jason Cabaj, AHS Medical Officer of Health, talks about what public health is and its important role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to the Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Sean Chilton, Vice President Health Professions & Practice and Information Technology, talks about the role nurses are playing during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the profession has grown into what we see today.
Welcome to the Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Deb Gordon, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Clinical Operations, talks about the evolution of nursing leading up to the role they now play supporting Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Richard Lewanczuk, Senior Medical Director for AHS Health System Integration, talks about the importance of kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Braden Manns, Co-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Group, talks about the important work being done by SAG to support Albertans and AHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Peter Jamieson, Physician co-lead with AHS’ Emergency Coordination Centre, talks about how the ECC continues to support Albertans and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Carolyn O’hara, Interim Chief Medical Laboratory Officer at Alberta Precision Laboratories talks about how APL continues to play a key role is supporting Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Angela Jacobs, Associate Manager for AHS Notifiable Diseases, talks about what contact tracing is and why it’s so important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, AHS trauma physician Dr. Brenden van der Westhuizen (Fun der Vesthayzen) speaks with us about how important it is to think safety when playing outdoors this summer, for your health and for the health of all Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, AHS Dr. Linda Slocombe, AHS Senior Medical Director, Primary Health Care, talks about the important role Alberta’s family physicians continue to play in supporting Albertans experiencing any non-urgent medical concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, AHS respiratory therapist Rena Sorensen answers question about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Albertans living with chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma and COPD.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, AHS Calgary Zone Medical Director, Dr. Sid Viner talks about the important role Alberta emergency departments continue to play in supporting Albertans experiencing any emergency healthcare issue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Karrie Whalen, a respiratory therapy clinical educator answers questions about the role respiratory therapists are playing in supporting patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Colin Birch, Department head of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Calgary Zone, answers questions about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on expectant mothers and families of newborns
In this episode of the COVID-19 Physician Wellness podcast, Dr. Debrah Wirtzfeld, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Physician Health, Diversity & Wellness at Alberta Health Services, Jodi Ploquin, Senior Consultant with AHS Provincial Medical Affairs, and Dr. Jennine Wismark, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Physician Wellness & Development for Covenant Health, discuss a main theme that has emerged in their Zoom Room for Physician Wellness; What does support looks like for frontline HC providers during COVID-19?
Welcome to Alberta Health Services’ COVID-19 podcast. In this episode, Dr. Dean Ruether, AHS Medical Director for Community Oncology answer question about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Albertans living with cancer, including those going through treatment.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has put additional pressures on all parts of the health system, including laboratory services. Teams at Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) have been working 20 hours a day, seven days a week, for the past few weeks in order to deal with a surge in demand for COVID-19-related testing, as well as manage ongoing needs for other testing. Dr. Graham Tipples — APL’s Medical-Scientific Director at Provincial Laboratory for Public Health — answers questions about when APL started to respond to COVID-19 and what APL’s response looks like now and what it might look like in the weeks ahead. (14 mins)
The COVID-19 Physician Wellness podcast begins this week as an ongoing opportunity to provide updates and information to physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first podcast has split into two parts. In part one, Dr. Curtis Johnston, Edmonton Zone Deputy Medical Director and Dr. Debrah Wirtzfeld, co-lead for the AHS Physician Wellness portfolio discuss seven steps of resilience.
The COVID-19 Physician Wellness podcast begins this week as an ongoing opportunity to provide updates and information to physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first podcast has split into two parts. In part two, Dr. Curtis Johnston, Edmonton Zone Deputy Medical Director and Dr. Debrah Wirtzfeld, co-lead for the AHS Physician Wellness portfolio they talk about the impact social isolation and social media have on wellness.
AHS EMS Chief Paramedic Darren Sandbeck shares details on the work EMS is doing across the province supporting Albertans and frontline staff during the COVID-19 outbreak, including how staff are protecting themselves, how 911 calls are being handled and how EMS is currently managing events province-wide.
In this episode, Dr. Mitchell shares some advice about the importance of staying connected while practicing social distancing.
“Stress during this time is normal. The key is not to get overwhelmed. Get trusted sources for information.” Advice from AHS Addiction and Mental Health Provincial Medical Director Dr. Nicholas Mitchell.
Dr. Nicholas Etches, Medical Officer of Health, answers some common questions about the current COVID-19 virus situation.
In a new AHS podcast, we interview Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro about his life, his family, his career in law and politics, and his vision for healthcare in the province.
This episode of the ESCN podcast features an insightful conversation with senior healthcare leaders to discuss an initiative aimed to optimizing transfers from Long-term Care Facilities to an Emergency Department.
The ESCN is partnering with Seniors Health, RAAPID, Community Paramedicine, and Long-term Care (LTC) Facilities. The solution is a centralized and standardized LTC-ED care and referral pathway for LTC facilities considering transfer to ED. In conjunction with the implementation of this new pathway, targeted INTERACT® (Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers) tools will be implemented within LTC. This new standardized LTC-ED care and referral pathway will help to better optimize use of both the emergency department and the community paramedicine program, in a way that is patient-centered. Studies have shown that the provision of community paramedicine within LTC can significantly reduce transfers to emergency.
This initiative will be implemented within 36 LTC facilities in the Calgary Zone between August 2019 and March 2022. If the evaluation of this change demonstrates improvements to both LTC residents and the health care system outcomes, it will be spread to other zones within the province, starting with the Central zone.
Participants Host: Andrea Golding, Senior Project Manager, AHS Emergency Strategic Clinical Network Guests: • Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc, U of Calgary Geriatric Medicine Division Head within the Department of Medicine, and Medical Director of Specialized Geriatric Services in AHS Calgary zone • Dr. Eddy Lang, Scientific Director of the AHS Emergency Strategic Clinical Network and U of Calgary Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine • Dr. Vivian Ewa, U of Calgary Section Chief of Seniors Care within the Department of Family Medicine, and Medical Director of Integrated Seniors and Facility Living in AHS Calgary zone
Partnering with Patient Advisors can truly bring what matters to you into action. Learn about how Patient Advisors and Family Advisory Councils can guide learning and growth for your project.
University of Alberta Hospital neurologist Dr. Brian Buck discusses the case of André Therriault, a Donnelly farmer who survived and recovered from a serious stroke despite falling ill hundreds of kilometres away from a major stroke centre. This story is told in the video: Stroke program has rural Albertans covered [add hyperlink] on YouTube. In this podcast, Dr. Buck — Co-chair of the Acute Stroke Expert Working Group of the Cardiovascular Health & Stroke Strategic Clinical Network — talks about the Alberta Health Services stroke program and how it ensures Albertans in rural and remote communities can receive prompt, outstanding stroke care when they need it. “In terms of an integrated strategy to dealing with stroke patients, Alberta is unmatched,” says Dr. Buck.
Bronchiolitis, a viral respiratory infection, is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in Canada. On this podcast, host Dr Eddy Lang and guest Inelda Gjata will highlight the development and execution of a bronchiolitis-based audit and feedback project developed by the Alberta Medical Association's Physician Learning Program.
We encourage healthcare providers to consider that ‘function’ is an important health outcome. The rehabilitation philosophy and model of care frames efforts to encourage the notion that “rehabilitation is everyone’s responsibility” in healthcare.
Social innovations means investing in meeting the needs of the community first and peoples’ perspectives. Data on the day-to-day tensions and relationships need to be addressed and unpacked to help tackle the complexity of issues facing the communities. This means, among other things, collectively designing prototypes that might work towards building out a bigger solution.
Dr. Carolyn O’Hara and Tammy Hofer share updates on the announcement of the APL Executive Director People and Transformation, status of the organizational structures, the APL visioning sessions, and the APL e-People system.
Join rural healthcare leaders Angie Mann and Ashley Schefter as they discuss how they took family presence form concept to action, and listen to patient family members Terry and Deb Dunlop describe how family presence has positively impacted them.
Listen and learn how caregivers/families alongside primary care physicians play unique roles in all aspects of healthcare planning, quality improvement and safety
To help mark Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) Week (Nov. 5 – 9, 2018), come listen in on a discussion about family presence with Registered Nurses Paul Wright and Roberta Corea.
To help mark Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) Week (Nov. 5 – 9, 2018), come listen in on a discussion about family presence and what it means to clinicians and patients, including Joanne Cabrera, Executive Director, Surgery, Women's Health, Neurosciences, South Health Campus, Devyn Bryant, Registered Nurse, Post Anesthetic Case Unit (PACU), South Health Campus, patient Greg Miller and family member Joanne Miller.
Dr. Carolyn O’Hara and Tammy Hofer discuss the appointment of the APL Board Chair and the Alberta Labour Relations Board application along with updates on the Edmonton Lab Hub community engagement. In this session, they introduce the APL visioning project and remind everyone to obtain their annual flu vaccination.
The Alberta Health Services EMS Psychological Awareness and Wellness Support (PAWS) program was launched on October 16, 2017. In this update, learn about Delray’s recent support work and some answers to common questions about the program.
Learning Objectives: 1. Review practice recommendations 2. Discuss frailty screening in relation to Elder Friendly Care 3. Identify recommended frailty screening tools 4. Identify healthcare providers who could complete frailty screening 5. Share Site approaches to complete frailty screening 6. Identify 2 Pathway Pearls to assist implementation
Dr. Carolyn O’Hara and Tammy Hofer provide updates on resourcing the APL organizational structure, the transition of staff into APL e-People and APL physician contracts.
Dr. Carolyn O’Hara and Tammy Hofer provide insight into the announcement of our name and Chief Executive Officer. They chat about the administration, corporate and medical organization structures presented at the August 13 Alberta Public Laboratories Update – All Staff session and the next steps starting September 1.
The Alberta Health Services EMS Psychological Awareness and Wellness Support (PAWS) program was launched on October 16, 2017. In this update, learn about Delray’s recent support work and some answers to common questions about the program.
Marlies van Dijk and Jessica (Lamb) Spence detail the ins and outs of prototyping and testing your solution or product.
Guests: Jessica (Lamb) Spence, Senior Patient Engagement Consultant, Strategic Clinical Networks Marlies van Dijk, Provincial Quality Improvement Lead, QI Innovation
Resources: https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/design-thinking-get-started-with-prototyping https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/test-your-prototypes-how-to-gather-feedback-and-maximise-learning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwTIB3oYEwc
Aria Gaudet and Jennifer Symon explain the What Matters to You campaign – what it is, what benefit it can have and why it’s so important to each of them.
Find out more about the What Matters to You campaign: ahs.ca/wmty
The Alberta Health Services EMS Psychological Awareness and Wellness Support (PAWS) program was launched on October 16, 2017. In this update, learn about Delray’s recent support work, wellness monitoring and hear more from PADS about the type of training Delray required in order to prepare him for his role with AHS EMS.
Dr. Carolyn O’Hara and Tammy Hofer share updates on the LAPP application, Board approval of the executive structure, CEO & Board recruitment, the draft medical organizational structure, the key performance indicator (KPI) work, and engaging with external stakeholders.
Marlies van Dijk and Dana Dalgarno explain steps 2 and 3 of Design Thinking: Define & Ideate. How do you pinpoint the problem you are trying to solve and then come up with possible solutions? Resources: http://transformation.blog.nhs.uk/empathy-mapping http://www.betterevaluation.org/en/evaluation-options/richpictures https://designsprintkit.withgoogle.com/methods/sketch/crazy-8s/ https://www.iamnotmypixels.com/how-to-use-crazy-8s-to-generate-design-ideas/ http://www.liberatingstructures.com/12-2510-crowd-sourcing/ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/253959
Dr. Carolyn O’Hara and Tammy Hofer discuss the ongoing work with the Medical and executive structure, the support and corporate service structure (shared services) and the CEO recruitment.
The Alberta Health Services EMS Psychological Awareness and Wellness Support (PAWS) program was launched on October 16, 2017. In this update, learn about Delray’s recent support work, wellness monitoring and hear more from PADS about the type of training Delray required in order to prepare him for his role with AHS EMS.
Dr. Carolyn O’Hara and Tammy Hofer discuss the Medical Staff and Ongoing Operations Working Groups, update on the LAPP application and shared services as of March 16, 2018.
Marlies van Dijk and Maya Pajevic give an overview of design thinking -- what is it and how can it be useful in designing healthcare services around the user. Hint: the first step is empathy.
Leaders have a role to play: Dr. Curt Johnston and Marilyn Wacko share their thoughts about what leaders can do to create psychologically safe spaces
Dr. Curt Johnston, Carmen Lee and Emma Vogt discuss their experiences with transforming the culture on their team to increase psychological safety.
Guests: Dr. Curt Johnston, Intensive Care Physician; Carmen Lee, Pharmacy Assistant, Royal Alexandra Hospital; Emma Vogt, Pharmacy Assistant, Royal Alexandra Hospital
Resource: http://www.ismp-canada.org/download/safetyBulletins/ISMPCSB2007-07NearMiss.pdf
Dr. Curt Johnston and Trina Juchli discuss the importance of discovering how psychologically safe your team is and offer ideas on how you can find out. Guests: Dr. Curt Johnston, Intensive Care Physician; Trina Juchli, Unit Manager, Operating Room Resources: https://rework.withgoogle.com/guides/understanding-team-effectiveness/steps/foster-psychological-safety/
Alberta Health Services EMS is now using puppy power to help support paramedics after traumatic calls as part of the new psychological awareness and wellness support (PAWS) program.
The Stollery Children’s’ Hospital Chronic Pain Team and the ECHO research team at the University of Alberta have created an innovative ebook to help children and families who have chronic pain. The book, titled “Learning to live with chronic pain: one family’s story” tells the story from the mother’s perspective on the family journey to accessing care from a chronic pain clinic. The book has been very well received by both families and health care providers, and reviews for it are positive.
Darren Werth, the senior director of Program Strategies at the Calgary Urban Project Society shares how poverty and hunger affect kids' abilities to learn and how CUPS is using brain science to better help their clients.
Neuroscientist Nicole Sherren explains how brains are built and our experiences shape our lifelong health.
Learn how children develop their language and literacy skills with Joanne Baxter, and associate professor in the department of Child Studies and Social Work at Mount Royal University in Calgary.
Learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and its influence on bullying and resilience from leading ADHD scholar Dr. Chip Taylor.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information’s (CIHI) existence speaks to the value that Canadians place on their healthcare system. We want to know how public investments are improving health outcomes for ourselves, our families and all Canadians. Their work reflects a recognition that while universal healthcare is a Canadian value, it comes with an obligation. Listen in as David O’Toole, President and CEO of CIHI, discusses the importance of data to inform healthcare decisions.
Dr. Kerri Novak and Dr. Eddy Lang talk about a provincial initiative to improve the way emergency departments treat gastrointestinal bleeding by increasing communications between emergency departments and gastroenterology, promoting patient safety and enhancing access to outpatient services.
Terri Fortunaso discusses a collaborative effort in AHS’ South Zone to address an increase in violent incidents in continuing care.
Michael Smeland talks about the challenges health care workers face when moving and transferring patients, and what Alberta Health Services is doing to protect worker health and safety.
Sean Chilton, Chief South Zone Officer, talks about how healthcare workers are among the highest at-risk group to experience violence on the job across all health systems, including Alberta.
Ken Garnett was ready to deploy to Fort McMurray. However, with an outpouring of willing volunteers, the Alberta Health Services (AHS) maintenance lead in Peace River wasn’t called to go. He wanted to help somehow, so instead Garnett wrote a song – ‘Alberta Strong.’
Dr. Laura Calhoun, AHS Provincial Medical Director, Addiction and Mental Health, talks about overcoming the stigma of mental illness.
Dr. Nicholas Mitchell, Senior Medical Director with Addiction and Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network, talks about the linkage between exercise and depression, what studies are showing regarding regular exercise and how this may reduce symptoms of depression.
Proper food and nutrition is essential to achieving the best health outcomes for patients and clients. Eating wholesome, well-balanced meals also plays an important role in promoting overall health and reducing the risk of chronic disease. In this podcast, Andy Jones talks about how hospitals must have the highest standards in place for food preparation and service in order to ensure patients who come to hospital malnourished do not leave malnourished. He's leading a movement to achieve this goal by promoting a patient- and family-focused food service that involves not just food services but also health care providers, support staff, patients and families.
Dr. Clarence Wong talks about colorectal cancer, one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada, and the importance of early detection and screening.
Pharmacy technicians are now regulated health care professionals and some pharmacists are allowed to prescribe medication to patients. Pharmacy Technician Brenda Lambert and Pharmacist Tiffany Woo tell more.
Teens can see prescription meds as a safer way to get high, but they can be dangerous. Find out ways to lock up your meds, have frank conversations with your teen and create strategies to help them say no.
More than 1,300 children between the ages of one and four end up in Alberta emergency departments every year because of unintentional poisoning. Find out ways to prevent poisoning and protect your children.
Dr. Darren Brenner, an Epidemiologist with CancerControl Alberta at AHS, talks about a recent study that shows 45% of cancers in Alberta are linked to preventable factors and tells us what we can do to help avoid these factors.
More than 380,000 computed tomography (CT) scans are performed in Alberta every year. A province-wide research study is examining whether this powerful tool is being overused, specifically when diagnosing concussions and blood clots in the lungs.
Dr. Verna Yiu assumes the role of Interim President and CEO of Alberta Health Services effective Jan. 11, 2016. In this 40-minute podcast, Verna discusses a broad range of topics, including her personal background, her leadership style and her to-do list for the organization.
Holiday gatherings might not seem like the ideal time to talk about Palliative and End of Life Care, Advance Care Planning and Goals of Care designations but they are actually a perfect opportunity for families to discuss their wishes. Dr. James Silvius, Medical Director, Seniors Health, Community Seniors Addictions & Mental Health and Max Jajszczok, Executive Director, Provincial Continuing Care, provide some helpful tips and information.
Dr. Judy MacDonald, Medical Officer of Health, Alberta Health Services – Calgary Zone, talks to media about possible Hep A exposure risk in Lake Louise.
Cheryl Houtekamer, a program supervisor with Youth Addiction Services in the Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services, shares her insights about how parents can talk to their children about alcohol and other drugs.
Last February, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned a ban on physician-assisted death and gave federal and provincial governments 12 months to craft legislation to respond to the ruling. Dr. Jim Silvius — Medical Director for Seniors Health at Alberta Health Services — discusses the ruling’s implications on Canadians and their health system.
Helen Bevan, Chief of Service Transformation at the National Health Services Institute for Innovation and Improvement in England, talks about the origins Change Day (http://changedayab.ca/) and how everyone can have an impact on their health or the health system.
Dr. Stephen Tsekrekos, Medical Director of AHS Workplace and Health, talks about the importance of AHS staff, physicians and volunteers receiving their annual influenza immunization.
Our podcast guest, Deb Runnalls, has spent more than three decades working with the homeless, and representing marginalized populations at all levels of government, Alberta Health Services and internationally. Her experiences, professionally and personally, stroked another passion – for patient- and family-centred care. Hear from her about why Patient and Family Centred Care is so important.
Hear audio of AHS President and CEO Vickie Kaminski talk to media about the water supply incident at Royal Alex.