About AHS

Who We Are

• We are the 117,000 skilled and dedicated health professionals, support staff, 15,000 volunteers and *7,400 physicians who promote wellness and provide care every day to 3.7 million Albertans, as well many residents of southwestern Saskatchewan, southeastern British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. 
• This includes approximately 82,500 direct AHS employees and approximately 12,000 staff working in AHS wholly owned subsidiaries such as Carewest, Capital Care Group and Calgary Laboratory Services. 
• 98 Acute care hospitals, 5 stand alone psychiatric facilities, 7,802 acute care beds, 19,557 long-term care & supportive living beds / spaces, plus equity partnership in 33 Primary Care Networks.
• Programs and services are offered at 400 facilities throughout the province, including hospitals, clinics, continuing care facilities, mental health facilities and community health sites.
• Substantial university-based research, including two medical schools, closely integrated with healthcare delivery service.
• Students from Alberta’s universities and colleges, as well as from universities and colleges outside of Alberta, receive clinical education in AHS facilities. 

Our History

• Canada’s first province-wide, fully integrated health system, announced on May 15, 2008, by Ron Liepert, Minister of Health and Wellness.
• We bring together 12 formerly separate health entities in the province including three geographically based health authorities, Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), Alberta Mental Health Board and Alberta Cancer Board.  Ground ambulance service was added to the responsibilities of AHS in an announcement from Alberta Health and Wellness on May 30, 2008. The services were moved from municipalities to AHS effective April 1, 2009.
• Ken Hughes named as board chair.
• Dr. Stephen Duckett served as the first President and CEO from April 2009 to November 2010.
• Dr. Chris Eagle named as Acting President and CEO in November 2010.

 _{* This figure is the total physician count for Alberta both employed and independent physicians.}