Your Alberta Health Act – Access To Services

Accessing the right services for your health care needs

Albertans have a broad range of publicly-funded services available at a variety of health care facilities throughout the province. For information on facilities, programs and services offered through Alberta Health Services, go to Programs and Services or Hospitals and Facilities.

Service	What is it?	How does it help me?
Health Link Alberta	Nurse operated telephone advice and information services Toll Free: 1-866-408-LINK 403-943-5465 (Calgary) 780-408-5465 (Edmonton)	Serves as the first point of access for non-life threatening conditions Provides best medical options for your condition Available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week
Public Health Unit	Community based services such as health promotion, and disease and injury prevention for individuals, families and communities	Offers vaccination services Appointment and drop-in services
Family Physician or GP office	Family physician whose main focus is on family and community medicine	Provides health related advice, treatment and monitoring of health problems  Performs annual exams and manages referrals to specialists  Appointment and drop-in services
Primary Care Network	A team of physicians and other health providers Many physicians and health providers in Alberta are part of a Primary Care Network	Provides access to a team of health providers to best meet patients’ needs Appointment and drop in services
Walk-in Centres or Medi-Centres	Services for patients with uncomplicated and non-emergency needs Often provide the same services as a family doctor’s office	Usually operates with extended hours, including evenings and weekends Drop-in and appointment services
Urgent Care Centres	Community-based settings that provide services for unexpected and urgent, but non life-threatening conditions	Provides services similar to those provided by a family doctor Usually operates with extended hours
Emergency	The part of a hospital where medical and surgical care services to patients with immediate and life threatening conditions	Operates 24-hours a day, 7 days week Provides immediate care for emergency situations, including heart attacks and chest pains

Other health care services

Mental health and addictions centres:

Treatment and care of people with mental health or addictions challenges. These centres provide a range of in-patient and out-patient services and connect patients to support services in the community.

Cancer services:

Provide prevention, screening, diagnosis and care services for cancer patients. The treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, bone marrow and stem cell transplantation. These services are scheduled by your family physician or specialist.

Long-term care facilities:

Also known as Nursing Homes and Auxiliary Hospitals, provide care for residents assessed as having unpredictable and complex needs requiring 24-hour care. These facilities provide Registered Nursing services for residents who are assessed as requiring a high level of health care and/or increased monitoring of complex health challenges.

Supportive living facilities:

Provide seniors and persons with disabilities assistance with daily living and health care, such as scheduled and unscheduled personal care, housing, meals, housekeeping, laundry service, recreation programs and 24-hour safety and emergency response services in a safe home-like setting.

Urgent care centres:

Provide extended hours to patients seeking urgent treatment for non-life threatening conditions. Patients are not kept overnight; instead they are treated and leave the same day. Imaging and lab services are on- site and physicians and nurses provide care.

Secondary health care:

Typically called acute care. This includes diagnostic and treatment services usually performed in a hospital setting. A referral is required to access these services.

Tertiary health care:

A specialized, highly technical level of health care that includes diagnosis and treatment of disease and disability. This includes specialized intensive care units, advanced diagnostic support services, and highly specialized personnel. These services are provided in a hospital setting. A referral is required.