Edmonton and Northern Alberta Vascular Surgery Program consolidated at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital

EDMONTON, AB - Patients in Edmonton and northern Alberta in need of medical management or surgical treatment of vascular disease will now have better access to treatment thanks to a newly consolidated program at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital.

"Consolidating Edmonton's vascular surgery program in one location has significant benefits for patients from Edmonton and northern Alberta including streamlining care and improving access to service," says Ken Hughes, Chair, Alberta Health Services Board. "Initiatives like this consolidation are exactly the type of collaborative work which demonstrates how a provincial system will provide quality, specialty services."

Additionally, a project like this will provide attractive training opportunities for students, and allow for collaboration on academic projects. "Bringing people and resources together offers the best possible care for patients in an environment where health professionals can easily consult one another on cases," says Franco Savoia, Caritas Health Group Board Chair. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to bring together the best of technology with innovation, teamwork, compassion, and service."

The Grey Nuns Community Hospital is operated by the Caritas Health Group, under contract to Alberta Health Services and is fully integrated within the Edmonton health delivery system.

Vascular surgical services are provided to the province through two centralized programs in Edmonton and Calgary. The consolidated program in Edmonton expects to serve around 1,600 patients in the coming year thanks to renovations to the hospital's operating rooms, lab, procedure room, new diagnostic imaging equipment, and a new Intermediate Care Unit with specially trained nurses for surgical recovery.

Vascular surgeries provide timely repair of aneurysms, prevent strokes with carotid artery surgery, and restore blood flow to threatened limbs and organs. Vascular surgery is a specialty dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of diseases and conditions affecting the arteries and veins of the neck, thorax, abdomen and extremities (but do not include the heart or brain vessels). These diseases could include life-threatening aneurysms and blockages that slow or stop blood flow to the brain, limbs and all vital organs. Left untreated, blood vessel problems can result in serious damage, such as limb-loss, kidney failure or strokes.

Patients who require the support of a vascular surgeon are typically elderly and have complex medical conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

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