(Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

Alberta appoints two interim CEOs for Acute Care Alberta, AHS

Jan 8, 2025 | 10:39 AM

The province is making strides in establishing Acute Care Alberta.

Acute care, which includes hospitals, emergency services and surgery care, is a significant part of the health care system. Acute Care Alberta will be the new acute care provincial health agency, aimed at speeding up access to care and reducing wait times.

As part of the process, the province is appointing Dr. Chris Eagle as chair and interim president and CEO. The appointment will take effect on February 1 to coincide with the establishment of Acute Care Alberta as a legal entity.

Eagle said, “I am excited to take on this role and support the efforts to refocus Alberta’s health care system and to create an improved acute care system that will make sure Albertans have access to the best health care services they need, no matter where they live in the province.”

In response, Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi released the following statement:

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“It may be a new year, but the UCP is still following their old playbook: undermining public health care and creating chaos for patients and staff.

“Today’s announcement is yet another example of the instability the incompetent UCP has unleashed on Alberta’s health care system.

“Danielle Smith and Adriana LaGrange keep attacking acute care by firing CEOs and appointing more insiders instead of fixing the very real problems Albertans are facing. Emergency rooms across the province are closing and nearly a million Albertans don’t have a family doctor.

“This is now the fourth CEO and the fourth Board Chair the UCP has gone through since 2021. Alberta now has six health care organizations each with their own management layer and the UCP still cannot get it right. Their incompetence is putting patients at risk.

“Danielle Smith promised to fix healthcare in 90 days. That was 810 days ago and all we’ve seen is a system on the verge of collapse, more new managers for them to blame, and worse patient outcomes. Albertans deserve better than this make-it-up-as-we-go-along chaos.

“Smith and LaGrange keep looking for people to blame for this disaster. Time for them to look in the mirror. Time to stop firing scapegoats and fire this government.”

In addition to Eagle, Andre Tremblay, deputy minister of Alberta Health, has been appointed interim president and CEO of Alberta Health Services. In the past, Tremblay has been deputy minister at Education, Agriculture and Forestry, and Transportation. This is also his second leadership role at Alberta Health, having previously served as an associate deputy minister.

With both appointments being in the interim, the AHS board of directors will begin the search for a permanent president and CEO immediately.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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