ATHABASCA — Residents from an area spanning Wandering River, Athabasca and Lac La Biche, down to Redwater and east to the Saskatchewan border have been invited to virtually meet the faces behind the Lakeland Communities Health Advisory Council (HAC) April 17.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced the virtual meeting via an April 15 press release, noting the meeting will be a chance for residents within the Lakeland Communities HAC’s borders to hear North Zone leadership’s update on the local delivery of healthcare services.
The meeting will take place on Zoom from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 17. Anyone interested in attending the session must email [email protected] with the subject line ‘meeting’ for a link to the session and more details.
HACs are comprised of volunteers from the area, and can include regular members of the public, individuals with backgrounds in healthcare, or local leaders. Council members are tasked with voicing shared concerns and community priorities with AHS leadership to better shape local care decisions and delivery.
The Lakeland Communities HAC is one of 12 around the province that will be replaced by 12 regional advisory councils as part of the Alberta government’s efforts to revamp the healthcare system. Development and deployment of the regional advisory councils is one of the governments priorities for spring 2024, along with the creation of the Mental Health and Addiction organization.
According to the release, attendees will also have a chance to voice their opinions and provide feedback on local healthcare delivery and priorities, as well as learning more about recruitment efforts in the area.
Participants can also learn more about ongoing initiatives like AHS’s Virtual Chronic Pain Program (AVCPP), that connects people living with chronic pain to education, management skills, and peer support sessions.
For more information on Alberta’s HAC’s, visit http://www.ahs.ca/advisorycouncils, or call 1-877-275-8830.
