Anticoagulation Management Service

Maintains effective anticoagulation therapy by monitoring and maintaining coagulation status. High-risk patients are seen sooner. To be considered high risk, the person must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• have had bleeding or clotting complications on warfarin with a therapeutic INR
• have health issues that affect anticoagulation control
• be taking medicine that may affect therapy
• have had bleeding issues within the past month, but still need anticoagulation therapy

Heart / Heart Lung Transplant Program

Heart Transplant is a treatment option for some patients with end stage heart disease. Heart Disease may be caused by a number of factors / conditions. The Heart Transplant Program offers care for suitable patients before and after heart transplants, including: 

• Assessments for Transplant:
  • Patients will be assessed based on their need and urgency.
  • The purpose of the assessment is to determine whether transplant is the best option for the patient as well as to determine if there are any contraindications.
  • Patients will be required to follow a complex medical treatment plan.
• Treatment and Follow up during the waiting period:
  • If suitable for the program, the transplant team will provide ongoing follow up whether the patient is an in-patient or an outpatient (in clinics) .
• Treatment and Lifelong Follow up after Transplant:
  • Transplant is a lifelong commitment to compliance with clinics, bloodwork, procedures and many medications. These things ensure the transplant continues to be successful.
  • The goal of transplant is a longer and better quality of life.
• Patient and Support Person(s) Education:
  • The transplant team will provide ongoing education throughout the process including the five phases: assessment, waiting, transplant, recovery/rehabilitation and living with a transplant.

Heart Transplant Program

Patients are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team and are followed by the team from acceptance both pre and post transplant. Education regarding heart healthy lifestyle and transplantation is provided from the time of referral. Education teaching booklets are provided. Patients may be followed as an outpatient or while waiting in hospital. The transplant team follows post transplant patients for life.

Home Hemodialysis - Northern Alberta Renal Program

Provides 6 weeks training so that the person and/or their family caregiver can carry out dialysis at home. The home hemodialysis team will assess to see if home hemodialysis is an option and if the person's home can accommodate the equipment, etc.

Home Peritoneal Dialysis Unit - Northern Alberta Renal Program

Provides peritoneal dialysis (HPD) that can be done by clients in their home. Dialysis fluid is infused through a tube into the client’s belly. The peritoneal membrane (lining of the belly) acts as a filter to take away toxins and extra fluid from the body. Clients usually do 4 treatments per day, with each treatment lasting about 30 minutes.

Nurses teach clients and family members about peritoneal dialysis and how to do it at home. Follow-up is done by phone and in routine clinic visits.

Service is offered to clients in central and northern Alberta, neighbouring provinces, and the Northwest Territories.

Liver Transplant Program (adult and pediatric)

Provides liver transplant services for adults and children.

Two kinds of liver transplant services are available:

• full liver transplants
• living donor transplants—part of a liver from a donor (usually a relative) is transplanted into the patient

If needed, another organ (e.g., kidney, small bowel) may be transplanted at the same time.

Service includes:

• teaching about transplants
• answering questions about transplants to help clients decide if a liver transplant is right for them
• providing care after the surgery to help clients recover

Living Donor Services

The living donor office arranges all testing and consultations for the potential living donor. Clients are contacted regularly to make sure they are well informed during the process. The donor and recipient teams are kept separate to keep the donor's details private.

It takes 1–3 months to go through the evaluation process.

The living donor will spend less than a week in the hospital after the donation surgery and will need to be off work for 4-8 weeks for recovery.

Lung Transplant Program

Provides care to patients undergoing a lung transplant.

Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation

Donations of organs and tissues may include:

• Organs: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and small bowel
• Tissues: eyes, skin, heart valves, bones, tendons and placenta

To find out how to record your wishes to donate organs and / or tissues after you die, visit the Organ and Tissue Donation Registry.

For more information visit our website.

Pancreas Transplant Program

Most patients referred to the pancreas transplant program have Type1 diabetes. Diabetic patients with kidney failure may also receive a kidney transplant at the same time as a pancreas transplant.

Stroke Program, Edmonton Zone

Services offered include:

• referral to information or services for stroke
• providing education about stroke, risk factor reduction and available community resources to healthcare providers, stroke survivors, and the general public

Stroke Service Coordinators work with health care providers, practitioners, specialists and educators to ensure the latest stroke information, research, technology and evidence-based practice are integrated in the delivery of standardized stroke care in the areas of stroke prevention, acute care, rehabilitation, and community re-engagement.

This service is not for emergencies. If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), call 911 immediately.

For more information visit our website.

Transplant Services

Transplant services include:

• care for adults and children who have had a transplant
• education services for healthcare providers and the public
• Comprehensive Tissue Centre
• strategic planning and program development
• collaboration with organ and tissue donation programs

Additional information:

• Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation
• Renal Transplant Services - Northern Alberta Renal Program (NARP)

Tuberculosis Program

There are 2 public health TB clinics: one in Calgary and one in Edmonton. There is also a virtual TB clinic that works with local community/public health centres to provide service to rural Alberta, including First Nation reserve communities.

For additional information on Tuberculosis visit: myhealth.alberta.ca