Alberta Health Services Referral Delays Under Investigation

The Health Quality Council of Alberta is probing a processing issue that may have affected 14,000 patient referrals over five years.

The investigation was requested by the provincial government to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.
Referrals in question were made to specialists outside Alberta Health Services, including physiotherapists and dietitians.
The issue was identified in late September, with preliminary findings indicating 31 potential patient impacts.
Alberta Health Services processes approximately 100,000 referrals annually, but some may not have been completed.
Patients potentially affected by the disruption, dating back to 2019, are being notified by the health authority.