Addiction and Mental Health - Domestic Abuse Response Team

Domestic violence can take many forms, including verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, spiritual, financial, and the violation of rights and can happen in any relationship that is based on intimacy, dependency, or trust. The Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) offers specialized support to patients of all genders who are experiencing any form of domestic violence. Individuals do not have to be in a crisis to access DART and can request a referral at select emergency departments, urgent care centres, and maternity units. Participation is voluntary.

DART services are provided while individuals are present within the Alberta Health Services (AHS) or Covenant Health facility and are confidential, nonjudgmental, and choice-based. Once the referral is initiated, a DART responder will connect with the individual either in-person or over the phone to conduct further assessment and provide the following services based on the their needs:

• emotional support
• information and education about domestic violence
• assistance with safety planning
• information about and referrals to local supports, including financial assistance, counselling, food bank, etc.
• assistance with contacting local law enforcement and / or Children's Services
• access to safe accommodations, including emergency shelter or hotel
• transportation from AHS or Covenant Health facility to safe accommodations
• follow-up support This service is provided by AHS and AHS contracted service providers.

This service is provided by AHS and AHS contracted service providers.

Breathe Easy Program - Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Clients learn:

• how to use their medicine properly
• how to cope with feeling such as fear, anger, or stress
• how to make healthy food choices
• why exercise is important

Clients also take part in exercise sessions that include:

• a warm-up and stretching
• breathing techniques
• muscle strengthening and free weights
• walking
• stationary bicycle and treadmill

Visit our website

Cafeteria Services

Cafeteria services offer food and beverages at Alberta Health Services facilities. Catering services and vending machines are available at some sites. Each cafeteria services site team is dedicated to creating great food, inspiring healthy eating, and providing outstanding customer service to support the health of Albertans.

**Please note hours of operation may vary from site to site.

Child Health Clinics Community

This service provides:

• immunization to infants and preschool children
• health education/counselling/support for parents
• health assessment and screening to identify health concerns
• referral to healthcare providers and community resources

Colonoscopy

Provides examination of the large intestine to assess or confirm polyps / growths, inflammation, or areas of bleeding in the colon. Direct visualization allows for biopsies, removal of polyps and photographs.

Community Audiology Services

Services include:

• standard hearing assessment and follow-up for anyone 6 months and older
• follow-up recommendations and management of hearing loss

Clinic doesn't offer hearing aid services. These services are accessed privately.

Computed Tomography

Computed tomography, also known as "CT Scan" or "CAT Scan", is when pictures of the body are taken using radiation and computer-enhanced imaging.

Drop In for New Mothers / Families and Infants

Mothers / families can talk with a public health nurse about health issues or concerns about their infant or preschoolers (e.g., growth, nutrition, common health concerns) or parenting issues.

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program

Alberta's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program is a provincial screening program that identifies permanent hearing loss as early as possible in a baby's life. This ensures that babies and families receive timely follow-up and support sooner to optimize developmental outcomes.

Services include:

• Screening babies for hearing loss by 1 month of age
• Diagnosing permanent hearing loss by 3 months of age
• Ensuring access to intervention by 6 months of age

For more information, visit our website

Emergency Services

If you have an emergency, call 911.

Emergency departments:

• take care of people that are very sick or injured on a priority basis. This means the sickest people are seen first. If you go to an emergency department for care that isn't urgent, you will not likely be seen right away.
• provide medical care, which includes assessment and treatment
• stabilize people and get them ready to transport to a higher level of care facility (if needed)
• provide follow-up care including referrals to a family doctor or specialist (if needed)

Emergency Department wait times are now available for Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Red Deer.

Get the right care when you need it, to learn more visit Know Your Options

This service may be impacted by the COVID pandemic. View the Hours of Operations to see if the location has been impacted. Visit https://ahs.ca/covid for up-to-date information.

Fluoride Protection for Toddlers

Children only need to have a few teeth to start getting fluoride. Applications are given 4 times, once every 6 months. For eligibility information visit our website.

At the appointment:

• The child sits on their parent's lap while staff apply fluoride on the child's teeth using a brush, which takes less than a minute.
• The child can eat and drink right after the treatment.
• The fluoride sticks to the teeth and protects them. It slowly wears off when the teeth are brushed.

If the child has asthma, bring his or her asthma reliever medicine to the appointment.
This provincial prevention service is available in all AHS (Alberta Health Services) zones.

Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a real time x-ray like a video, which is used by physicians and staff to assist imaging throughout the body during exams.

Gastroscopy

In using a thin flexible tube with it's own light source, the upper digestive tract is examined. The doctor focusses on the lining of the esophagus, stomach and upper portion of the small intestine.

General Radiography (X-Ray)

General Radiography uses x-rays to produce images of the structures inside the body, particularly bones. X-ray beams can pass through the body, but they are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the material they pass through.

General Surgery - Adult

Provides care to people who need to have a general surgery procedure, including:

• small and large bowel surgery
• gallbladder
• mastectomy or breast surgery
• hernia repairs
• thyroid surgery
• hemorrhoid
• wound care

Gift Shop

A gift shop available for clients, families, and staff. All proceeds from the sales are donated back to the hospital in support of patient care, comfort and education.

Call individual site to confirm their accepted forms of payment.

Gynecology Day Surgery

Cares for women who are inpatients or in day surgery with gynecology concerns. Includes:

• urogynecology
• gynecology / cancer concerns
• reproductive health
• women’s endocrine and infertility concerns

Health Information - Access and Disclosure

In accordance with Alberta's Health Information Act, this is a service which enables the release of individually identifiable health information with or without the consent of an individual.

For detailed instructions, frequently asked questions and forms, please visit Access & Disclosure | Alberta Health Services.

Health Information / Records Management

Completes patient charts, collects data, data entry and coding, collects patient information, dictates notes, and transcribes inpatient and outpatient charts.

Healthy Beginnings Postpartum Program

Provides nursing care and support including:

• health assessments of Mom & Baby
• breastfeeding support
• information about parenting and baby care
• referrals to healthcare providers or community resources as needed

You will be contacted after you are discharged from the hospital to arrange an initial assessment.

Hospitals

To access contact information and a list of services offered, select a hospital.

Search through a complete list of progams and services, or hospital and facility information with the following:

Find Healthcare:

• Progams & Services
• Hospitals & Facilities

Immunization - Adult Services

This service provides routine immunization for adults. Suggested immunizations:

• a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough)(dTap) every 10 years
• dTap vaccine for pregnant women every time they are pregnant
• Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) for unprotected adults born in 1981 or later. Some adults born before 1981 may need this vaccine if they are at risk for hepatitis B (e.g. health problems, type of work, lifestyle, contact with the virus)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adults up to and including age 26 years who did not get it in school.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine for adults whose immunization records do not show the recommended number of doses of measles, mumps, or rubella vaccine.
• Chickenpox vaccine for unprotected adults
• annual influenza vaccine
• pneumococcal vaccine for all adults 65 years of age and older and adults with certain health problems
• shingles vaccine for adults 18 years of age and older who have had or are going to have an organ transplant

To find out which vaccines are recommended for you and to book an appointment for immunization, call your nearest community / public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community / public health centre is, you can call Health Link at 811. Bring any immunization records you have to the appointment, especially if you were immunized in another province or country.

For more general information about immunization go to ImmunizeAlberta.ca, Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca, or call Health Link.

Immunization - Infant and Preschool Services

Alberta Health Services provides routine immunization for infants and children across Alberta. Immunizations are free of charge for infants and children who live in Alberta.

Immunizations are recommended for infants starting at 2 months of age. Routinely recommended vaccines include: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenza type b, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal, pneumococcal, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and influenza.

For the routine immunization schedule, go to immunizealberta.ca.

Additional vaccines may be needed depending on your child’s health conditions or other risk factors.

Immunization is effective. Other than providing safe drinking water, no other health intervention works as well as immunization to reduce disease and death rates. Immunization protects whole communities. The more people who are fully immunized in a community, the safer everyone is.

Immunization is safe. It is much safer to get immunized than to get the diseases that vaccines protect against.

For more information, and to book an appointment, call your nearest community/public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community/public health centre is, call Health Link at 811. Bring your child’s immunization record to the appointment, especially if your child was immunized in another province or country.

For more general information about immunization, go to immunizealberta.ca,Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca, or call Health Link at 811.

Immunization - School Services

Each year, Alberta Health Services, Public Health reviews immunization records for students in grades 1, 6, and 9 to see what immunizations each student needs. A consent form is then sent home with an information sheet for each vaccine recommended for the student. No immunizations will be given in school without consent from a parent or legal guardian. Immunizations in this program include:

• Grades 1, 6, and 9: Any routine childhood and school vaccines that may have been missed according to a review of the students immunization record on file
• Grade 6: Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine for students who have not already completed a hepatitis B immunization series and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine
• Grade 9: diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (dTap) and meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y, W-135) conjugate vaccine

Intravenous (IV) Therapy Clinic

Post care for procedures such as:

• Outpatient Antimicrobial Therapy Clinic
• blood & blood product transfusions
• chronic disease medication infusion

Laboratory Services

Effective December 5, 2022, walk-in or pre-scheduled appointments will no longer be accepted at select locations.

For information on service restrictions or to book an appointment, visit APL Appointments & Booking.

Laboratory Services provides collection of blood and body fluids for tests ordered by your doctor or healthcare provider including a comprehensive range of routine and specialized lab testing and clinical consultations:

• blood and body fluid sample collection
• biochemistry and toxicology
• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• genetics and genomics
• urinalysis
• transfusion medicine
• hematology
• coagulation studies
• microbiology
• public health testing
• serology
• surgical pathology
• cytopathology
• autopsy pathology
• student practicum training for medical lab technologists and medical lab assistants

Note: Some locations may not offer the full range of testing. To confirm availability of a specific test, contact the location.

Labour and Delivery

Provides labour and birth care for pregnant women.

Minor Procedure / Surgery

Provides minor operations done under local anesthetic, including:

• plastic surgery
• general surgery

Services provided:

• preparing patients before the operation
• care after the operation
• patient education

New Moms Network

This service is unavailable, due to COVID-19.

Available across the Edmonton area, these sessions provide an opportunity for women to connect with other new moms and learn more about the health and development of their child.

Ophthalmology - Surgical Suite

Offers surgery for eye problems.

Patient Email Well Wishes

As part of our support for patient care and comfort, friends and family of inpatients at hospital and health care facilities can send well wishes via email. Sites participating in the program will receive the message, will ensure that the message is only "well-wish" (any other type of communication will be deleted) and will arrange for delivery within 3 business days. A couple of important reminders - the electronic delivery system is not a secure connection, so please don't add any confidential information to your message. Plus the "well-wish" system does not allow for replies or confirm receipt / delivery confirmation.

Patient Food Services

Patient Food Services overarching objectives are to:

• Offer quality food and food choice, to support Patient Centered Care
• Work with the whole care team to ensure that Food Matters
• Foster a positive meal experience that results in enjoyment of meals, as well as improved satisfaction and food intake that supports recovery
• Provide menus that are based on “Canada’s Food Guide” and that are adaptable for therapeutic requirements
• Offer appealing food that encourages eating for health
• Provide meal service styles appropriate to the patient population (e.g. tray service, dining room service) and meal delivery systems that support safe high quality food served at appropriate temperatures to the correct patient / resident

PFS delivers more than 31,000 patient/resident meals each day within AHS facilities.

Patient Information

Services offered:

• responding to patient location inquires
• providing direction on a patients whereabouts

Protective Services

Protective Services responsibilities include:

• safety of patients, staff, and visitors
• protection of hospital and personal property
• patrolling and observing activities in all areas of the hospital
• prevention and detection of criminal activities
• investigations conducted into security and fire-related matters
• responding to security alarms, fire alarms, medical emergencies, hazardous situations
• access control
• lost and found
• fire safety
• safe walking
• assisting with parking

Public Health Centres

A service offered by Public Health Nurses including immunization according to the Alberta Health immunization schedule, health education/counselling/support for parents, health assessment and screening to identify health concerns, and referral to appropriate health care providers such as physicians, and community resources.

Registration

Patient Registration

• registers and pre-registers patients and collects demographic and financial information.
• registers patients for inpatient admissions, ambulatory clinic appointment, and emergency department services

Respiratory Therapy - Community

Respiratory Therapists who are trained as respiratory educator specialists provide chronic disease management services to clients with respiratory disease so that they can better manage their own care. This may include disease specific education, training regarding inhaler medication use, trigger management and avoidance, preparation of action plans and diagnostic point of care testing.

Other services provided include Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs and initial assessment and re-assessment for home oxygen therapy funding through the Alberta Aids to Daily Living Program.

Community respiratory therapy ambulatory clinic services are provided through clinics at the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital, Strathcona Community Hospital, Leduc Community Hospital and Designated Assisted Living sites throughout the Edmonton area. Setting: Chronic Disease Management Clinic, Health Centre, Community, Rehab Centre/Unit, Designated Assisted Living sites. Program: Group or individual assessments and treatments, consult, discharge, follow up, education, training.

School Health Nursing Services

Services include:

• immunizations
• promoting healthy school communities
• resources and support services for students, parents, and teachers
• referrals to other services

School Health Services

Services include:

• School Health Nursing
• School Dental Services

For more information visit our website.

School Oral Health Services

Services are offered to eligible schools and may include:

• fluoride varnish, provided to kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2
• dental sealants, provided to Grade 1 and Grade 2

A child diagnosed with asthma must have their short acting asthma reliever medication with them to receive service.

Sexual Assault Response Team

The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a team of Registered Nurses with specialized education in sexual assault care. They serve 11 Edmonton area emergency rooms 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.The team provides compassionate, confidential, culturally sensitive, and nonjudgmental care to individuals who have been sexually assaulted in the last 7 days with or without police involvement. Care includes assessment, physical examination, testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy, giving medicine to prevent STIs and pregnancy, and referrals for counselling or other healthcare services.

Sexual Assault Resources

• Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) Support & Information Line: 780-423-4121
• SACE Counselling: 780-423-4102
• Strathcona Sexual Assault Centre (SAFFRON): 780-449-0900
• University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre: 780-492-9771
• Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (online chat also available):1-866-403-8000
• Edmonton Police Service Victim Support Services: 780-421-2217

Community Resources

• Health Link for 24/7 Health Advice: 811
• Birth Control Centre: 780-735-0010
• STI Clinic: 780-342-2300
• Boyle McCauley Health Centre: 780-422-7333
• Family Violence Info Line: 780-310-1818
• Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters: 1-866-331-3933
• Addiction and Mental Health Services: 780-427-2736
• Streetworks: 780-424-4106

Sigmoidoscopy

Provides examination of the lower bowel using a fiberoptic scope.

Social Work

Assesses clients' needs and gives support to help them deal with illness or injury.

Services include:

• help addressing concerns of clients, families, and members of the healthcare team
• information and education (e.g., making good decisions, caregiver stress, career or work options, end-of-life care, child care options)
• referrals to community resources and services (e.g., financial help, accommodation, transportation)
• help solving conflicts within families and with the healthcare system
• speaks with government agencies and departments on behalf of clients
• support as clients transition home or to another care setting

Switchboard

These services include:

• answering incoming telephone calls
• transferring telephone calls and
• giving out authorized telephone numbers

Tuberculosis Testing

Offers free tuberculosis (TB) skin testing to eligible Albertans. The Mantoux skin test is not recommended to diagnose TB.

Testing is done at public health centres throughout the province:

• North Zone
• Edmonton Zone
• Central Zone
• Calgary Zone
• South Zone

If you are not eligible for free testing but still need to be tested there will be a charge for the test.

For travel or work related TB testing contact the Travel Health Services in your area. With the exception of Edmonton, you would contact the Immunization Business Unit to have school or work-related TB skin testing done.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is an imaging test that captures images of soft tissue organs, blood vessels and tissues using high-frequency sound waves (no radiation). Ultrasound is also known as sonography.

Not all tests are offered at all sites. Call the location for more information.

Volunteer Resources

Our volunteer roles share a commitment to improving the quality of the patient and family experience.

Volunteers are:

• way-finders who help guide patients and families around our busy facilities,
• friendly visitors who spend time with our socially isolated patients,
• patient and family advisors who provide input and direction to AHS on numerous committees,
• supporters of our volunteer retail operations - where the proceeds are returned to AHS to provide patient care and comfort.

For general information about volunteering with AHS please visit our website.