Province launches new health system dashboard
Alberta has launched a new online health system dashboard designed to give Albertans clearer, more accessible information about how the province’s health-care system is performing, the government said Friday.
The dashboard will share key performance metrics and will be introduced in phases, beginning with surgical data that includes province-wide comparisons across facilities. Additional measures will be added in the coming weeks, including primary care indicators such as provider attachment and cervical cancer screening rates, as well as more acute care metrics.
Over time, the dashboard will expand to include information on assisted living, mental health and addiction services, with the goal of providing a broader picture of how the system is supporting patients across the province.
“Albertans deserve to know how their health care system is performing,” Adriana LaGrange, minister of primary and preventative health services, said in a statement. “This dashboard puts patients first, clearly shows key results and holds the system accountable.”
Hospital and surgical health services minister Matt Jones said the tool focuses on outcomes that matter to patients and will help strengthen accountability as more measures are added.
“This dashboard gives Albertans a clear view of health system performance by focusing on outcomes that matter to patients,” Jones said in a statement. “As it expands, it will enhance accountability and provide a clearer picture of health care across Alberta.”
The dashboard will be updated monthly using the most recent data available, with a short reporting delay to allow for reconciliation and validation, the government said.
The tool currently includes select surgery volumes and wait times, including cancer surgery volumes and wait times. It also features an interactive map showing acute care facilities across the province that perform surgeries, along with the number and types of procedures completed at each site.
The government said the metrics included on the dashboard were shaped by feedback gathered during health-care refocusing engagement sessions.