By Athana Mentzelopoulos, President and CEO, AHS

Op-Ed

Statement from AHS President and CEO on Rocky Mountain House Health Centre surgical program

Sep 26, 2024 | 5:33 PM

The following is a Letter to the Editor, submitted by Athana Mentzelopoulos, President and CEO of Alberta Health Services.

“It is important for me to provide clarity on the surgical program in Rocky Mountain House, and correct comments made about the program’s future. Let me be very clear – there are absolutely no plans to decrease general surgery at the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre.

“We continue to support the site’s general surgery program – approximately 81 general surgeries, 412 endoscopies, and 52 gynecology procedures have been completed at the site this year. And, in June, we expanded the site’s surgical program to include knee replacement surgeries, supported by orthopedic surgeons travelling to Rocky Mountain House.

“Since then, 41 orthopedic surgeries have been completed. The addition of orthopedic surgeries has bolstered the local surgery program, not hampered it. No limits have been placed on the general surgery program, and no changes have been made to the way the site supports the community’s surgical needs.

“The introduction of an orthopedic surgery program has, in fact, helped improve access to a number of complementary services at the site, including better access to lab and x-ray, and additional nursing staff. Claims that orthopedic surgery patients are taking up inpatient space at the Health Centre are not correct. These patients generally recover quickly and do not require extensive inpatient care. There is also no impact on general surgical patients who need post-operative care – that continues, as it always has.

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“In addition, claims that the community has the fewest number of physicians in a decade are simply not true. There are currently 16 physicians practicing in Rocky Mountain House and AHS is recruiting for an additional four. In comparison, there were 12 physicians practicing in the community in 2020.

“We are aware of one surgeon who has opted to no longer work at the site, and that is their decision. This physician was a locum and did not have a fulltime, permanent position in Rocky Mountain House. It is not accurate to suggest their operating hours were decreased.

“We know that there has been some frustration in the past when a surgeon has wanted to do certain procedures that they do not have privileges for. It is important that processes are followed when a surgeon wants to add a service. Decisions to expand services must take into account patient safety, volumes, and the ability to practice and maintain surgical skillsets. These processes are in place to protect patients, while balancing the skills of our surgeons and the needs of the community.

“We continue our efforts to recruit for a permanent General Surgeon and for a General Practitioner with Anesthesia training, and we will continue to work with our physicians to explore opportunities to deliver additional surgical services where possible. Qualified candidates are being interviewed, and erroneous public comments that call into question our commitment to the program in Rocky Mountain House will do nothing to support these recruitment efforts.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The views expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of rdnewsNOW or Pattison Media. Column suggestions and letters to the editor can be sent to news@rdnewsNOW.com.