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Local Doctors Looking For Better Cardiac Care In Central Alberta

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3 minute read

By Sheldon Spackman

Local Doctors are calling on the Province to act on the need for better Cardiac Care in Central Alberta. In September, an open letter was penned to Health Minister Sarah Hoffman asking the government to consider providing emergency coronary angiography and angioplasty which has demonstrated to be a life saving procedure. However, Dr. S.A. van Zyl, President of Central Zone Medical Staff Association says patients living within the Central Zone do not have access to these services and must travel to Edmonton or Calgary for the procedure.

He adds that according to CIHI data, a rural Albertan suffering from a heart attack has about a 30 percent higher chance of death and re-hospitalization compared to patients living in Edmonton or Calgary.

In the letter to the Minister, Dr. van Zyl says it is technically feasible and cost effective to offer coronary angiography and angioplasty services at the Red Deer Regional Hospital, pointing out that opening a cardiac catheterization lab in Red Deer could also decrease overall health care costs by patients having to travel less and wait less time for their treatment.

The Central Zone Medical Staff Association put forward a few recommendations to the Minister for consideration, including supporting development of comprehensive echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and angioplasty services at Red Deer Regional Hospital. The re-allocation of operational funds used to provide angiography and angioplasty services outside the Central Zone and the development of echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and angioplasty services in Red Deer should enhance primary health care in the Central Zone.

A Facebook group called Central Alberta Needs Cardiac Catheterization has now been formed and outlines that they are advocating for the need to be based at the Red Deer Regional Hospital but fully support an integrated delivery of cardiac care in Central Alberta that will benefit all those that live in the area. The group says the bottom line is that the citizens of Central Alberta are being short changed when it comes to the delivery of cardiac care and residents should be able to get better care that is closer to home.

AHS officials say a considerable amount of work needs to be done to make this happen but planning for one is just getting started.

The Facebook group Central Alberta Needs Cardiac Catheterization has shared this Youtube video to outline what Cardiac Catheterization entails:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1MerxU5C8M

(Photo and Video Courtesy of Central Alberta Needs Cardiac Catheterization)

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