Alberta adds 221 hospital spaces ahead of respiratory virus season
The province says new triage teams and staffing tools are also part of its plan to manage an expected surge in flu, RSV and COVID-19 cases.
Why it matters
The added capacity and new triage measures could affect emergency room wait times for Albertans across the province this winter.
The Government of Alberta has expanded hospital capacity ahead of respiratory virus season, adding more than 9,000 acute care spaces province-wide and launching a new triage program. Officials say 221 hospital spaces are now open, including 79 in Calgary and 102 in Edmonton, with another 194 temporary spaces that can be activated if demand exceeds current capacity.
Acute Care Alberta and Assisted Living Alberta say initiatives such as the Homecare and Hospital to Home Pathway have freed the equivalent of 175 acute care beds over the past year. Premier Danielle Smith said acute care capacity is now at the highest level in Alberta's history, while Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange said the plan combines added capacity with new clinical triage teams.
A newly launched Triage Liaison Physician program will place physicians directly in busy emergency department waiting areas to give patients an earlier point of contact. Hospitals are also introducing automated daily staffing reports to track where staff are available. Acute Care Alberta will monitor hospital capacity and patient flow through the season, with established triggers guiding further measures as needed.
The province noted that free flu shots are available to all Albertans six months and older, and RSV immunization is now available year-round for eligible seniors, vulnerable adults aged 18 to 69 with certain medical conditions, and infants born in hospital between November and April.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.