Health care in Calgary
Encyclopedia
Calgary
currently has three major adult acute care hospitals; the Foothills Medical Centre
, the Rockyview General Hospital
and the Peter Lougheed Centre
(formerly a wing of the now-defunct Calgary General Hospital), and a children's acute care hospital; Alberta Children's Hospital
, all running under the auspices of the Calgary Health Region
. A fourth adult acute care hospital is currently in the planning stages in the lower-Southeast corridor of the city. The medical helicopters operate under the auspices of the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society
. The Sheldon M. Chumir Centre
, the Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (RRDTC), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta
, Tom Baker Cancer Centre
,Grace Women's Health Centre, Carewest, Colonel Belcher, and the Glenmore Auxiliary Hospital are other medical facilities operating in the city, each providing a variety of care. The University of Calgary
Medical Clinic also operates in partnership with the Calgary Health Region, and is located at the Foothills Medical Centre
. The four largest Calgary hospitals have a combined total of more than 1,800 beds, and employ over 11,500 people. Health care is consistently ranked in national polls as a significant political concern, both at a federal and provincial level.
The University of Alberta
(U of A) took over from the CPSA in licensing physicians after 1910. Afterwards, the public health nursing service was also established to carry out preventive health care and public education, as physicians became concerned with insufficient numbers.
After 1920, the CPSA retained licensing and discipline functions and also took over the "business" side, such as collecting dues and representing the profession in relation to legislation. In turn, the AMA became responsible for education and public relations.
In 1931, annual physician refresher courses were subsidized by the AMA and held at the U of A.
In the 1940s, more than 90% of Albertans received prepaid medical care due to the government-created Medical Services (Alberta), until replaced by compulsory federal medicare in 1969.
In the 1960s, the AMA took over activities related to fees and benefits paid on behalf of patients under government insurance, as well as most committee work involving health matters. The AMA was formally constituted under the Societies Act of Alberta at this time.
In the 1970s, in response to increased illicit drug use in the 1960s, the Alberta Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) is established.
On 1 January 1975, the AMA became a freestanding voluntary organization, financially independent of the CPSA.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
currently has three major adult acute care hospitals; the Foothills Medical Centre
Foothills Medical Centre
Foothills Medical Centre is the largest hospital in Alberta, Canada and is located in the City of Calgary. It is one of Canada's most recognized medical facilities and is one of the leading hospitals in Alberta, providing advanced healthcare services to over two million people from Calgary,...
, the Rockyview General Hospital
Rockyview General Hospital
Rockyview General Hospital is a large hospital in Alberta, Canada. It is located in the city of Calgary, on the shores of the Glenmore Reservoir and is administered by the Alberta Health Services and formerly by the Calgary Health Region....
and the Peter Lougheed Centre
Peter Lougheed Centre
Peter Lougheed Centre is a large hospital in Alberta, Canada. It is located in the City of Calgary, and runs under the auspices of Alberta Health Services, formerly the Calgary Health Region, providing medical and surgical services not only to Calgary, but also Southern Alberta...
(formerly a wing of the now-defunct Calgary General Hospital), and a children's acute care hospital; Alberta Children's Hospital
Alberta Children's Hospital
Alberta Children's Hospital is the largest public hospital for sick children in the prairie provinces, and is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is operated by Alberta Health Services - Calgary Health Region. The new facility opened on September 27, 2006 and is the first free-standing...
, all running under the auspices of the Calgary Health Region
Calgary Health Region
Calgary Health Region was formerly the governing body for healthcare regulation in an area of the Canadian province of Alberta. It was amalgamated with other regional health authorities in 2008 to become part of Alberta Health Services...
. A fourth adult acute care hospital is currently in the planning stages in the lower-Southeast corridor of the city. The medical helicopters operate under the auspices of the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society
Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society
The Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society was formed in Calgary, Alberta to provide emergency medical care and transport to the critically ill and injured...
. The Sheldon M. Chumir Centre
Sheldon M. Chumir Centre
The Sheldon M. Chumir Centre is a health centre located in Calgary, Alberta. The facility is administered by the Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services...
, the Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (RRDTC), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta
Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta is a partnership between the Calgary Health Region and the University of Calgary. Its mandate comprises all cardiovascular research, education and service delivery, with a service area extending from Saskatchewan, Southern Alberta and Eastern British...
, Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Tom Baker Cancer Centre, renamed The Cancer Centre, is a tertiary care facility for Southern Alberta, and is located in Calgary, Alberta. It is a leading Cancer Centre in Alberta for prevention, research and treatment programs and provides many advanced medical services, as well as supportive care...
,Grace Women's Health Centre, Carewest, Colonel Belcher, and the Glenmore Auxiliary Hospital are other medical facilities operating in the city, each providing a variety of care. The University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
Medical Clinic also operates in partnership with the Calgary Health Region, and is located at the Foothills Medical Centre
Foothills Medical Centre
Foothills Medical Centre is the largest hospital in Alberta, Canada and is located in the City of Calgary. It is one of Canada's most recognized medical facilities and is one of the leading hospitals in Alberta, providing advanced healthcare services to over two million people from Calgary,...
. The four largest Calgary hospitals have a combined total of more than 1,800 beds, and employ over 11,500 people. Health care is consistently ranked in national polls as a significant political concern, both at a federal and provincial level.
History of physician care in Calgary
Medical Profession Act was passed after Alberta became a province in 1905. In 1906, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) was formed in Calgary, covering physician licensing and discipline, followed shortly after by the forming of the Canadian Medical Association, Alberta Division (renamed the Alberta Medical Association in the 1960s), an educational body also concerned with standards of care acting in concert with the CPSA.The University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
(U of A) took over from the CPSA in licensing physicians after 1910. Afterwards, the public health nursing service was also established to carry out preventive health care and public education, as physicians became concerned with insufficient numbers.
After 1920, the CPSA retained licensing and discipline functions and also took over the "business" side, such as collecting dues and representing the profession in relation to legislation. In turn, the AMA became responsible for education and public relations.
In 1931, annual physician refresher courses were subsidized by the AMA and held at the U of A.
In the 1940s, more than 90% of Albertans received prepaid medical care due to the government-created Medical Services (Alberta), until replaced by compulsory federal medicare in 1969.
In the 1960s, the AMA took over activities related to fees and benefits paid on behalf of patients under government insurance, as well as most committee work involving health matters. The AMA was formally constituted under the Societies Act of Alberta at this time.
In the 1970s, in response to increased illicit drug use in the 1960s, the Alberta Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) is established.
On 1 January 1975, the AMA became a freestanding voluntary organization, financially independent of the CPSA.
See also
- Calgary Health RegionCalgary Health RegionCalgary Health Region was formerly the governing body for healthcare regulation in an area of the Canadian province of Alberta. It was amalgamated with other regional health authorities in 2008 to become part of Alberta Health Services...
- Health care in CanadaHealth care in CanadaHealth care in Canada is delivered through a publicly-funded health care system, which is mostly free at the point of use and has most services provided by private entities. It is guided by the provisions of the Canada Health Act. The government assures the quality of care through federal standards...
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute of AlbertaLibin Cardiovascular Institute of AlbertaThe Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta is a partnership between the Calgary Health Region and the University of Calgary. Its mandate comprises all cardiovascular research, education and service delivery, with a service area extending from Saskatchewan, Southern Alberta and Eastern British...
- List of hospitals in Canada