AHS described the procedures affected as “elective” and said they include arthroplasty hip, knee, and shoulder cases, and spine cases.to consolidate the on-call component of its orthopedic residency training program at the University of Alberta Hospital.”However, in an email to Global News, a spokesperson for the university said “clinical service delivery, including any decisions to postpone elective surgeries, is the responsibility of Alberta Health Services.
AHS said it “is working hard to find alternative coverage. Urgent and emergency surgeries will continue at the site. “We acknowledge that this is extremely frustrating to those impacted patients, and we apologize for any disruption these postponements will cause. We are working hard to get those impacted patients rescheduled as quickly as possible.”
In the Edmonton Zone, arthroplasty hip and knee surgeries are continuing at the Misericordia Community Hospital, AHS said. Arthroplasty shoulder surgeries are continuing at the Sturgeon Community Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital.