Author: Gateway Gazette Contributor

June 5, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved, AHS has continuously considered visitation guidelines in context of risk to patients and residents of healthcare facilities, as well as to the staff providing care to these individuals. Effective Saturday, June 6, AHS implemented enhanced visitation for all patients in both acute outpatient and inpatient settings.…

June 11 at 5:30 p.m. Hospitalization rates remain low with 45 people in hospital, six of whom are in intensive care. In total, 6,788 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19. Latest updates 40 new cases bring the number of total active cases to 379. Cases have been identified in all zones across the province: Calgary zone:…

Proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act will strengthen patient rights and ensure those rights are respected while patients receive needed care. Bill 17, the Mental Health Amendment Act, proposes amendments to address a 2019 ruling by the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench. That ruling found some sections of the Mental Health Act to be unconstitutional or incomplete.…

Effective immediately, new billing codes for “virtual” patient visits via telephone and video calls introduced for the pandemic will become permanent. In March, government introduced new and expanded billing codes for virtual care to aid in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Virtual care has been an important part of our COVID-19 response, protecting patients,…

Canadian Armed Forces Day is June 7th June 7, 2020 – Ottawa – National Defence / Veterans Affairs Canada The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Lawrence A. MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement today in recognition of Canadian Armed Forces…

The province is proud to be working side by side with artists to support our talented musicians as we navigate through COVID-19. Alberta Music, the National Music Centre, CKUA and Stagehand are partnering with support from the province to deliver Alberta Spotlight, a weekly online concert series featuring Alberta musicians. The funding will go directly…

June 10 at 4 p.m. Hospitalization rates remain low with 42 people in hospital, six of whom are in intensive care. In total, 6,754 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19. Latest updates 47 new cases bring the number of total active cases to 371. Cases have been identified in all zones across the province: Calgary zone:…

Government has introduced Bill 21, the Provincial Administrative Penalties Act, which would help restore justice system capacity and make our roads safer. If passed, Alberta will create a simplified, accessible and swift system for resolving matters involving most first-time impaired driving and other traffic safety offences. By removing these matters from the court system, we…

Changes to Alberta’s nursing homes regulations mean residents can access direct primary care from nurse practitioners beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Long-term changes to Alberta’s nursing homes regulations will come into effect on Aug. 15. These changes make the temporary amendments, introduced as part of the government’s response to COVID-19, permanent. The amended regulations remove barriers…