Adult Mental Health Treatment Services

Provides individual, couples, group or family therapy to adults:

• who are suicidal or at risk for suicide
• who have an Axis I diagnosis
• who are experiencing a significant impairment in functioning meaning that they are not able to carry out daily activities of living

Clients initially speak with an intake therapist who determines eligibility, risk and urgency. They connect the client with the most appropriate mental health program or refer clients to an appropriate community agency.

The assigned therapist establishes treatment goals with the client based on symptoms and the clients identified goals.

Therapists work collaboratively with family physicians and may refer clients to a psychiatrist, if necessary.

Alberta Aids to Daily Living Program

This Government of Alberta funded program assesses people for funding for benefits like wheelchairs, walkers, bathing equipment, wound supplies, and compression stockings.

Assertive Outreach Services

A range of supports are provided to persons living with severe and persistent mental illness while they are living in the community and whenever possible, while they are an inpatient.

A qualified team of health professionals offer:

• assessment
• counselling/therapy
• medication Management
• crisis Intervention
• education
• advocacy and liaison
• problem solving
• goal Setting
• social and recreational activities
• budgeting
• shopping
• housing
• legal Issues
• community access
• education or employment

Services are individualized, focused on recovery, and based on the principles of Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) to assist with various areas of community living.

Breastfeeding Clinic

Free service that supports breastfeeding mothers and mothers with breastfeeding issues due to:

• not making enough milk
• plugged ducts
• mastitis
• thrush
• latching issues
• poor infant weight gain
• breast reduction surgery
• adoptive nursing

Car Seat Safety

If you need assistance with your child safety seat, please refer to the child safety seat owner’s manual and the appropriate YES Test.

For more information on rear facing/forward facing car seats, booster seats and Transport Canada public notices on child restraint systems (recalls), visit our website.

Children's Mental Health Treatment Services

Treatment is provided using a variety of interventions to children who experience

• mood problems with impairment in functioning (health, learning, family, socialization)
• anxiety problems with impairment in functioning (health, learning, family, socialization)
• trauma-related experiences with impairment in functioning (health, learning, family, socialization)
• suicidal behaviour
• psychosis
• complex social, emotional, behavioral problems should be screened in as case coordination and referral may be required. These may include children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, complex trauma, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder etc.
• behavioral issues that are significant and present in multiple settings, consider assessment before referral to other agencies. These externalizing behaviors may be a sign of mood or anxiety disorders

Children who would be referred to other health care services or community agencies for a first intervention include:

• diagnosis for pervasive developmental disorders, should be referred to the family physician or other specialist assessment
• tic disorders and tourettes would be referred to family physician for specialist referral
• grief, separation and loss without associated functional impairment. The initial referral would be to school based or school linked services or to a community resource if available and/or to a walk in clinic where this service exists when some impairment is identified
• referrals related to disorder eating should be referred to physician and dietitian for follow up. Staff may be involved in case conferencing and planning for services
• substance use problems are referred to Addiction Services where substance use is primary
• psychoeducational and learning assessments will be referred to Education. Some clinics may have a wider range of services available. The assigned therapist will discuss available services with the client

Communication Development Services

Helps preschool children with:

• trouble understanding or using speech
• making speech sounds correctly
• language development problems
• stuttering
• feeding or swallowing problems
• voice problems

Works with other healthcare providers as needed. Services are offered at community health centres, preschools, and in the home.

Community Health Centres

Services include immunization and public health nursing.

Continuing Care Services

Provides long-term residential care for people who can no longer live at home or in an assisted living centre.

Other services within the program may include:

• access coordinator
• adult day support
• community care (formerly home care)
• dementia care
• foot care clinic
• nutrition services
• palliative and end of life care
• respite care

Diagnostic Imaging Services

The types of tests provided in Diagnostic Imaging are included below.

Please click on the test you require to see the locations that are being offered:

• Computed Tomography (CT scans)
• General Radiography (X-ray)
• Interventional Radiography/Angiography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Mammography (Mammograms)
• Nuclear Medicine
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET, PET/CT)
• Ultrasound
• Echocardiography
• Fluoroscopy

Eating Disorder Services

Offers services for individuals, families and health care providers including:

• education
• resources
• individualized support
• consultations
• assistance with referrals to appropriate services

Counselling is completed in collaboration with other health care providers.

Workshops and in-services are available.

Emergency Services

If you have an emergency, call 911.

Emergency departments:

• take care of people that are very sick or injured on a priority basis. This means the sickest people are seen first. If you go to an emergency department for care that isn’t urgent, you will not likely be seen right away.
• provide medical care, which includes assessment and treatment
• stabilize people and get them ready to transport to a higher level of care facility (if needed)
• provide follow-up care including referrals to a family doctor or specialist (if needed)

Emergency Department wait times are now available for Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Red Deer.

Environmental Public Health - Disease: Communicable, Rabies, Food Borne Illness

This service:

• investigates cases and outbreaks of illness, which are caused by germs like E. coli, salmonella, and Giardia (beaver fever) to find out the cause and prevent other people from getting sick
• investigates people with vomiting and diarrhea who don’t know how they got sick
• provides follow-up for animal bites (dogs, cats, bats, and other animals) to make sure people don’t get rabies
• investigates single cases and/or outbreaks of many diseases including botulism, hantavirus, norovirus, shigella, and Q fever

For more information visit Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Drinking Water

Inspects public water supplies, reviews water sample results, and issues water advisories if needed. You can get water testing supplies (sample bottles) and shipping information from your local Community Health Centre. Testing for municipalities and private home owners is done through the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health and Alberta Centre for Toxicology. If there is E. coli or total coliform bacteria in your sample, you will be contacted right away.

May advise private homeowners about how safe their well, cistern, or dugout water is and talk about treatment options if needed.

Does drinking water testing for bacteria through the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health, Environmental Microbiology Services, which checks for:

• E. coli bacteria (shows if water is contaminated with sewage or fecal matter)
• total coliform bacteria (shows if water is contaminated with non-sewage pollution from the environment)

Chemical water testing of untreated ground water for private households is done by The Alberta Centre for Toxicology which checks for many different things including bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, and magnesium.

Your water sample requisition may be reviewed before your sample is sent to the right place for testing. This is to make sure your water supply is eligible for testing.

Sample Bottle Pick-up and Drop-off locations in Alberta.

• North Zone
• Edmonton Zone
• Central Zone
• Calgary
• Rural Calgary
• South Zone

For more information visit the Environment Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Education

Answers general environmental public health questions about topics like safe cooking, pest problems, and mould.

Offers classes, courses, presentations, and displays on many environmental public health topics. They are suited to the audience’s needs. Information can be in-person, online, or in home study, and may be available in other languages. Some services offered are:

• bed bugs presentations
• courses for childcare facility staff
• courses to operate temporary food concessions at fairs, festivals, exhibitions, carnivals, or other special events
• displays at trade shows and expos
• food sanitation and hygiene courses (the AHS Food Safety Course is required by Alberta’s Food Regulation)
• hand washing and personal hygiene presentations
• home study on food safety (a certificate in basic food safety may be issued)
• swimming pool operators course
• 3-hour courses on food safety (a certificate in basic food safety may be issued)

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Housing and Illegal Drug Operations

Requires that owners/operators/landlords/property managers keep public housing healthy and safe for tenants. The service follows up on complaints from tenants or other agencies about housing conditions which may include no heat, water problems, structure problems, or pest problems (mice or other rodents, bed bugs or other insects). If conditions could be dangerous to tenants, they may need to move out. The service works with landlords to fix or remove problems. The service can also order dangerous conditions to be fixed like houses used for illegal drug operations (e.g., marijuana grow ops, meth labs).

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - New Business and Plan Approval

Reviews and approves plans for building or renovating restaurants or other food establishments, swimming pools, social care facilities (e.g., daycares and nursing homes), and personal service facilities (e.g., tattoo studios, spas).

Reviews plans for special events (e.g., fairs, exhibitions, or carnivals) to make sure the right services are available (including washrooms and hand wash stations).

Issues permits and licenses needed for some facilities to operate like:

• a Food Handling Permit for food establishments open to the public
• a Public Swimming Pools Regulation License for swimming pools open to the public

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Orders, Disclosure and Legal Activity

Inspects public places. When needed, is granted the power by The Public Health Act to order dangerous conditions to be fixed, removed, destroyed, or declared unfit.

Public health inspectors are designated as executive officers under the Public Health Act (RSA Chapter P-37) and enforce these regulations and standards:

• Alberta Dishwashing Standard
• Bed and Breakfast Health Standards and Guidelines
• Bodies of Deceased Persons Regulation (AR 14/2001)
• Bottled Water and Packaged Ice Facility Standards
• Communicable Diseases Regulation (AR 238/1985)
• Food Regulation (AR 31/2006)
• Food Retail and Foodservices Code
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Barbering and Hairstyling
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Body Piercing and Ear Piercing
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Electrolysis
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Esthetics
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Tattooing
• Housing Regulation (AR 173/1999)
• Institutions Regulation (AR 143/1981)
• Meat Facility Standards
• Minimum Housing and Health Standards
• Nuisance and General Sanitation Regulation (AR 243/2003)
• Personal Services Regulation (AR 20/2003)
• Public Health Act Forms Regulation (AR 197/2004)
• Recreation Area Regulation (AR 198/2004)
• Public Swimming Pool Regulation (204/2014)
• Waiver Regulation (AR 298/2003)

For more information visit Health Enforcement Orders

Environmental Public Health - Personal Services

Prevents illness and infection from spreading by:

• reviewing plans for new businesses
• approving facilities before they open
• doing inspections to make sure practices followed are safe and facilities are maintained as regulation requires
• investigating any complaints from clients.

The requirements of the Personal Services Regulation and its related Health Standards and Guidelines apply to services which offer:

• barbering
• body and ear piercing body
• body and facial waxing
• electrolysis
• facials
• hair styling or hair replacement
• make-up application (temporary or permanent)
• manicures and pedicures
• tattooing

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Recreational Water

Keeps the public from getting sick when using recreational water by:

• approving pool plans
• inspecting pools and other water facilities to ensure water is safe and sanitary
• teaching operators about proper pool maintenance
• reviewing water sample results (local community health centres may accept water samples for testing for E. coli, total coliforms, and Pseudomonas)

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health page.

Environmental Public Health - Risks: Indoor Air, Outdoor Air, Contaminated Sites

Responds to and investigates health risks from activities like sour gas wells, forest fires, and accidental releases of gasoline, pesticides, or other chemicals.

Reviews and makes recommendations to approving authorities regarding proposed land use developments (e.g., intensive livestock operations, industrial plants, or developments on contaminated sites).

Responds to complaints and investigates indoor air in residences, schools, malls, swimming pools, or other public places. Will also respond to and investigate complaints about outdoor air.

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Safe Food

Inspects public food facilities (e.g., restaurants, mobile food trucks, grocery stores, kitchens in daycares and nursing homes) to make sure food is prepared safely.

Applies Food Regulation requirements in public food facilities or operations to areas like:

• bed and breakfast facilities
• commercial caterers
• community organization functions (when food is prepared for the public by volunteers)
• convenience stores and fast food restaurants
• restaurants, delis, and mobile food vendors
• farmers’ markets (licensed by Alberta Agriculture) and their stallholders
• food banks
• food facilities in halls and churches that may be rented to the public
• daycares, nursing homes, group homes, and other care facilities with over 10 clients that offer food service
• grocery stores
• temporary food facilities at special events (e.g., fairs, festivals, exhibitions, carnivals, rodeos)
• water trucks that haul drinking water
• work-camp food facilities

This program offers guidance but will not apply Food Regulation requirements at private functions like:

• bake sales when low risk foods are sold for charity
• food prepared in a private home for family and guests
• potlucks and other functions not open to the public

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Social Care

Reviews plans for new businesses and approves facilities as requested by Child and Family Service Authority Licensing, Inspects many adult and childcare facilities routinely and follows up on complaints from clients or their families. May also provide education for staff in social care facilities.

Applies the requirements of the Institutions Regulation in social care facilities including:

• daycares and foster homes
• drop-in centres and shelters
• group family day homes and group homes
• long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and seniors’ lodges
• preschools and out-of-school care
• playgrounds

For more information visit our website

Environmental Public Health - Work Camps

Inspects work camps of all sizes, including camps that move around Alberta or stay in one place. This includes camps used for any type of business (e.g., oil exploration and development, logging, tree planting). Inspections check that food is safely prepared, water is safe to drink, sewage is properly treated and disposed of, and housing conditions are safe.

Teaches companies about requirements for work camps.

Investigates complaints from people living at work camps.

For more information  the Environmental Public Health website

Environmental Public Health Program

Work to keep public places (e.g., restaurants, daycares, pools, rental properties, tattoo studios) safe. Tell people about health risks (e.g., unsafe water or housing). Make sure that the Public Health Act is being followed.

Our services include:

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Facilities Maintenance & Engineering, Grande Prairie & Area

Facilities Management & Engineering (FM&E) is a department within the Capital Management Portfolio of Alberta Health Services. Other departments within Capital Management include: Capital Operations & Government Integration, Project Management, Protective & Parking Services, Clinical Engineering, and Property Management.

Facilities Maintenance & Engineering, Grande Prairie & Area has the responsibility to operate and maintain 13 sites, comprising 30 buildings totalling 120,000 square meters. Specifically, FM&E:

• maintains and operates building systems and equipment
• manages and maintains heliports
• looks to reduce utility costs through improved procurement and energy management
• ensures long term sustainability of facilities & equipment though periodic upgrading & replacement

Fluoride Protection for Toddlers

Children only need to have a few teeth to start getting fluoride. Applications are given 4 times, once every 6 months. For eligibility information visit our website.

At the appointment:

• The child sits on their parent's lap while staff apply fluoride on the child's teeth using a brush, which takes less than a minute.
• The child can eat and drink right after the treatment.
• The fluoride sticks to the teeth and protects them. It slowly wears off when the teeth are brushed.

If the child has asthma, bring his or her asthma reliever medicine to the appointment.
This provincial prevention service is available in all AHS (Alberta Health Services) zones.

Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a real time x-ray like a video, which is used by physicians and staff to assist imaging throughout the body during exams.

General Radiography (X-Ray)

General Radiography uses x-rays to produce images of the structures inside the body, particularly bones. X-ray beams can pass through the body, but they are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the material they pass through.

Health Information - Access and Disclosure

In accordance with Alberta’s Health Information Act, this is a service which enables the release of individually identifiable health information with or without the consent of an individual.

Hospitals

To access contact information and a list of services offered, select a hospital.

Search through a complete list of progams and services, or hospital and facility information with the following: 

Find Healthcare:

• Progams & Services
• Hospitals & Facilities

Immunization - Adult and Seniors Services

This service provides routine immunization for adults and seniors. Suggested immunizations;

• a booster dose of tetanus / diphtheria vaccine every 10 years
• an adult booster dose of pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, often combined with one of the tetanus / diphtheria boosters (dTap)
• annual influenza vaccine - for all Albertans 6 months of age and older
• pneumococcal vaccine - for all adults 65 years of age and older and adults with certain health problems

To find out which vaccines are recommended for you and to book an appointment for immunization, call your nearest community/public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community/public health centre is, you can call Health Link at 811.  Bring any immunization records you have to the appointment, especially if you were immunized in another province or country.

For more general information about immunization, go to Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca or call Health Link.

Immunization - Infant and Preschool Services

Alberta Health Services provides routine immunization for infants and children across Alberta. Immunizations are free of charge for infants and children who live in Alberta.

Immunizations are recommended for infants starting at 2 months of age. Routinely recommended vaccines include: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenza type b, rotavirus, meningococcal, pneumococcal, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and influenza.

For the routine immunization schedule, go to immunizealberta.ca.

Additional vaccines may be needed depending on your child’s health conditions or other risk factors.

Immunization is effective. Other than providing safe drinking water, no other health intervention works as well as immunization to reduce disease and death rates. Immunization protects whole communities. The more people who are fully immunized in a community, the safer everyone is.

Immunization is safe.  It is much safer to get immunized than to get the diseases that vaccines protect against. 

For more information, and to book an appointment, call your nearest community/public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community/public health centre is, call Health Link at 811. Bring your child’s immunization record to the appointment, especially if your child was immunized in another province or country. 

For more general information about immunization, go to Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca, or call Health Link at 811.

Immunization - School Services

This program provides routine immunizations to children in Grades 1, 5, and 9 in school. Before immunizations are given, records are reviewed to see what immunizations each child needs. A consent is then sent home. No immunizations will be given without consent from a parent or legal guardian. Immunizations in this program include:

• Grade 1: for children who have not received routine preschool immunizations, which includes diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella
• Grade 5: Offers Hepatitis B, human papilloma virus (HPV) and varicella (chickenpox) immunization to children who aren't immunized or have NOT had Hepatitis B or varicella disease. In August, 2014 HPV vaccine started being offered to grade 5 boys and girls. There is also a catch-up program for the grade 9 boys and girls who did not receive their vaccine in grade 5
• Grade 9: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and meningococcal vaccine is offered

Laboratory Services

This service provides a comprehensive range of routine and specialized lab testing and clinical consultation, services may include:

• blood and body fluid sample collection
• biochemistry and toxicology
• urinalysis
• transfusion medicine
• hematology
• coagulation studies
• microbiology
• serology
• surgical pathology
• cytopathology
• autopsy pathology
• student practicum training for medical lab technologists and medical lab assistants

Linen & Environmental Services

Cleans acute and continuing care facilities according to standards set by Alberta Health and Wellness and Alberta Health Services (AHS) infection control.

Services include:

• waste management
• managing outside contracts (e.g., door mats, windows, pest control)
• managing cleaning contracts for leased space
• providing linen services to north zone sites

Medical Device Reprocessing

Provides clean or sterilized items for use in patient care including:

• personal care items
• instruments
• surgical drapes
• respiratory and anaesthetic supplies
• some dental and home care supplies

Mental Health Information, Promotion and Prevention

Offers information, workshops and training on preventing and/or coping with: 

• stress, anxiety, depression,  seasonal affective disorder, grief and loss
• suicide
• Mental Health First Aid Training
• ASIST and other suicide intervention training

Mental health promotion facilitators work with schools and various community agencies to strengthen resiliency amongst the population.

Some services are offered directly by Alberta Health Services staff, agencies funded by Alberta Health Services or community partners

Mental Health Services

Mental health problems may include mental illness such as:

• depression
• postpartum depression
• anxiety
• obsessive compulsive disorder
• schizophrenia

If you are not sure if these services are right for you, you can ask to talk to one of our therapists for assistance.

How do I obtain services?

• no referral is necessary and our services are free to Albertans as our costs are covered by your Alberta Health Care
• you can call yourself or a medical practitioner can also refer you

What do we do?

• talk to all callers as soon as possible (one business day)
• discuss problem with caller and develop a plan to meet needs
• provide mental health services through community programs

What services are provided?

•  assessment, diagnosis, treatment, therapy and support
•  referrals to other professional or community agencies when appropriate
•  services and support to mental health patients discharged from hospitals to assist
   them in returning to community life

 Information to individuals, community agencies or groups about mental health/ illness and suicide prevention

What additional community supports are available?

• mental health promotion and prevention
• support for the seriously mentally ill in the community.
• contact the nearest clinic for information on possible travel clinics

Nutrition Counselling - Adult and Pediatric

The majority of teaching is one-to-one, however, group sessions may be offered to promote enhanced learning of clients. Nutrition information and resources can be found on Alberta health Services’ Healthy Eating Starts and at MyHealth.Alberta.ca

Additional Services:

• Nutrition Counselling (Dietitian) - Alberta Healthy Living Program
• Pediatric Weight Management

Nutrition Counselling - Pediatric Weight Management

In the Outpatient Dietitian Counselling program, families work one-on-one with a registered dietitian (dietitian) trained in Pediatric Weight Management. The dietitian will help the family work on healthy eating and active living habits and set realistic goals that focus on creating a healthy lifestyle. Areas of focus include nutrition, physical activity, sedentary time and sleep.

The dietitian and the family’s healthcare provider work together to ensure the family is supported in achieving their health goals. They can also assist in connecting the family with other supports as needed, such as physical activity, mental health, and community services.

The program’s aim is to help families achieve a lifestyle that promotes healthy growth and development in their children.

For more information visit the Outpatient Dietitian Counselling website.

Occupational Therapy Services

Offers occupational therapy to help people who have brain injuries, strokes, heart disorders, or serious injuries learn new ways to do their work, leisure, and day-to-day activities.

This service also:

• works with Alberta Aids to Daily Living to provide approval for equipment and adaptive aids
• helps with disability tax credit forms
• approves applications for parking placards for people with disabilities

May assess, treat and teach children who have:

• delays in development
• physical challenges
• learning problems
• emotional or behavioural problems
• equipment or technology needs
• splinting needs

Oral Health - Programs and Services

This program offers:

• Targeted School Services: Fluoride varnish applications, oral health assessments and referrals, sealant applications, classroom education, and resource provision. These services are targeted to schools identified with students at oral health risk. Services may vary across the North Zone.
• Preschool Program: Fluoride varnish applications, oral health assessments and referrals for eligible children 12-35 months old. Services may vary across the North Zone.
• Community Education: Education for health professionals, community leaders, parent groups and other community groups to promote oral health. Information on fluoride and private well water sampling to determine fluoride levels available. Services may vary across the North Zone.

Outpatient Endoscopy

Service offers diagnostic procedures, including:

• gastroscopy
• colonoscopy
• bronchoscopy
• ERCP's
• Felix sigmiodoscopy
• hemorrhoid banding

Palliative and End of Life Care

Health services offered to palliative and end of life patients include:

• nursing care
• physiotherapy
• occupational therapy
• respiratory therapy
• nutritional services
• social services and counselling
• advance care planning

Support services offered to palliative and end of life patients can include:

• personal care
• respite care
• Meals on Wheels
• medical equipment provided by Alberta Aids to Daily Living Program

Services vary by community. Please contact the Home Care program or Acute Care facility in your community for more information.

Parenting Preschoolers

This service provides information on normal growth and development, promotes health, information for management of difficult behaviour and parenting skills. 

Service may be provided by telephone, home visit, special appointments or mailout.

Pastoral Care Services

Offers compassionate support and response to patients, residents, families, and healthcare providers in time of need while respecting the person's faith, religion, and practice.

Services may include:

• hospital visitation
• On Call Spiritual Care Adviser

Patient Food Services

Patient Food Services ensures patients receive the diet the doctor or dietitian orders. Our team of dietitians, food service supervisors, and qualified cooks plan and continually improve menus.

In some centers we provide food services for staff and visitors (cafeteria). Refer to the specific site contact information for hours of operation and location.

Pharmacy Services

Collaborates and interacts with healthcare service providers to provide clinical services and medications to patients in hospital and long-term care facilities.

Physical Therapy Services

Assesses people and uses exercises, ultrasound, laser, heat, mobilization, and acupuncture to treat health issues, including:

• pain and arthritis
• work-related and traumatic injuries
• lung and heart conditions
• cancer
• stroke, spinal cord issues, and Parkinson’s Disease

Prenatal Classes

Services include:

• Grande Prairie QEII Hospital online tour 
• Whitecourt Healthcare Centre online tour
• Prenatal classes
• Prenatal breast feeding classes

Please be advised not all locations offer all services.

Prenatal Classes provide people with:

• a chance to meet other people in the community expecting a baby
• knowledge of what to expect during your labor and delivery
• breathing and relaxation techniques
• immunization and infant safety information
• providing your support person with the skills to help with labor and delivery
• increased breastfeeding knowledge
• newborn and postpartum care
• what resources are available for yourself and your newborn

Classes are taught in groups by a community health nurse. Classes may be in the evenings or on Saturdays.

Public Health Nurses and Regional Dietitians are available at Community Health Services to answer questions about your pregnancy, diet and childbirth plans.

Regional Collaborative Service Delivery - School based and school linked mental health teams

The Regional Collaborative Service Delivery is designed to coordinate, integrate and enhance supports and services from service providers to effectively meet the needs of children, youth and their families and support their learning and well being.

Services include prevention, targeted intervention and individual intervention to school aged children, youth and their families related to a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns.

How services are delivered and by whom may vary across the zone.

Respiratory Health Program

Provides the North Zone with respiratory therapists (where possible) traveling to different communities. If your North Zone community is not listed below, please contact your nearest healthcare facility and you will be triaged to the most appropriate service.

Respiratory therapists:

• are available to provide materials on asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and related diseases
• provide community education, management, and support for individuals with respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, as well as education about smoking and smoking cessation
• offer care planning development for the self-management of chronic respiratory diseases
• include active client input into their disease process management, education, and determination of goals aimed at improving the quality of life, and enhancing the lung function of those who suffer from chronic obstructive lung diseases
• provide in-services upon request.

Respite Care

This service gives caregivers a short period of rest or relief from their responsibilities. The service is provided in a respite bed in the Continuing Care area of the facility.

School Health Presentations

Provides presentations to schools about health topics, including:

• nutrition
• diabetes
• allergies
• lice prevention and treatment
• hearing
• immunizations
• contagious diseases

School Health Program

Provides healthcare in schools.

Services include:

• immunizations
• skins tests to check for tuberculosis
• vision and hearing tests
• education and consultations about contagious diseases

School Oral Health Services

Services are offered to eligible schools and may include:

• fluoride varnish, provided to kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2
• dental sealants, provided to Grade 1 and Grade 2

A child diagnosed with asthma must have their short acting asthma reliever medication with them to receive service.

Sexual Health Services

Confidential drop-in or booked appointments may include:

• STI, HIV and syphilis testing
• STI treatment
• emergency contraception
• birth control information
• pregnancy tests
• pregnancy options decisions support (not available at all sites)
• Pap tests (not available at all sites)
• HPV vaccine

Other services include:

• sexual and reproductive health information, presentations, and training to students in the classroom and members in the community
• health promotion projects and events

Not all services are offered at all locations. Contact each clinic to confirm what services they offer.

Social Work

Services may include:

• refer and liaise with appropriate community and government agencies
• collaborate with other healthcare providers (discharge planning, family conferences)
• provide counselling and crisis intervention
• provide information/education on important resources and legislation (e.g., Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Child Welfare and Protection for Persons in Care)

Speech Language Pathology

This service provides:

• assessment (individual and group)
• treatment (individual and group)
• intervention
• consultation
• follow-Up
• education and training, and in some cases Telehealth

Services are provided in office, schools, rural hospitals, through home-based services to Home Care clients or through Telehealth. Hospital-based services are available to adults at the QEII Hospital in Grande Prairie. Intensive services are offered to patients of the 5 North Rehabilitation Unit. A Doctor's order is required for Inpatient referrals.

Therapeutic Recreation Services

Therapeutic recreation is important to a person’s quality of life. With this in mind, this service:

• uses recreation and leisure as the primary modality to improve, maintain or prevent decline of physicial, social, cognitive, and emotional health
• interventions are enjoyable, meaningful, focused and based on individual preferences, values and strenghts
• strives to remove barriers to recreation and leisure participation
• enables clients to continue to pursue their recreational and leisure interests/activities
• addresses social needs to help prevent isolation and loneliness
• helps client adjust to a placement and changes in health

Tour - Become a Skilled Shopper

Healthy eating starts with what's in your cart! During this interactive and fun tour, you'll learn how to read food labels and make the best food choices for you and your family. 

Traffic Safety - Alberta Occupant Restraint Program

Community Health Services staff, local RCMP and the Office of traffic Safety work together to improve the wear rates of seat belts and child safety seats.

Traffic Safety - Use Your Head, Wear A Helmet

Provides education to cyclists, school staff, recreation staff, parents, and community volunteers about why bicycle helmets are mandatory equipment for all cyclists under the age of 18 in Alberta and how to wear a helmet properly.

Travel Health Services

Promotes awareness of the possible risk of communicable disease when travelling and ways to prevent them. Travel Health can also give travel immunizations. Not all services are offered at all locations. The services below are offered on a fee-for-service basis:

• information on health risks according to country or region
• required and recommended vaccines
• information about preventing travel-related illnesses

Book your appointment at least 6 to 8 weeks before you leave to make sure there is enough time to have all your immunizations.

For more information visit our webpage

Quick Links 

• Edmonton - Seventh Street Plaza
• Calgary - Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

Tuberculosis Testing

Offers free tuberculosis (TB) skin testing to eligible Albertans. The Mantoux skin test is not recommended to diagnose TB.

Testing is done at public health centres throughout the province:

• North Zone
• Edmonton Zone
• Central Zone
• Calgary Zone
• South Zone

If you are not eligible for free testing but still need to be tested there will be a charge for the test.

For travel or work related TB testing contact the Travel Health Services in your area. With the exception of Edmonton, you would contact the Immunization Business Unit to have school or work-related TB skin testing done.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is an imaging test that captures images of soft tissue organs, blood vessels and tissues using high-frequency sound waves (no radiation).  Ultrasound is also known as sonography. 

Not all tests are offered at all sites. Call the location for more information.

Volunteer Resources

Our volunteer roles share a commitment to improving the quality of the patient and family experience.

Volunteers are:

• way-finders who help guide patients and families around our busy facilities,
• friendly visitors who spend time with our socially isolated patients,
• patient and family advisors who provide input and direction to AHS on numerous committees,  
• supporters of our volunteer retail operations - where the proceeds are returned to AHS to provide patient care and comfort.

For general information about volunteering with AHS please visit our website.

Walk In Counselling Services

Provides a short-term counselling service to help people make changes in their lives.

Sometimes people feel overwhelmed, aren't sure what to do, and need more than a friend to talk to.

Counsellor's use a team approach and focus on helping people make changes in their lives by learning what their strengths are and using them.

Reasons for needing this support may include:

• stress
• grieving
• parenting
• relationships
• depression
• anxiety

Confidential counselling sessions are 50 minutes.

If appropriate, people are provided information on other addiction and/or mental health services.

Well Baby Clinic

Provides immunizations for babies and young children.

Services include information about:

• breastfeeding
• normal sleep patterns
• child growth and development
• nutrition
• child safety

New mothers are also offered postpartum depression screening.