 | HEATHER YOUREX – HEALTH FYI SPECIALIST 2012 had some unforgettable health headlines. Alberta’s health system found itself under the microscope time and again as investigations uncovered problems with doctor intimidation and how pathology and radiology testing is done. In the fall, Alberta Health Services hit a high note with the first phase opening of the South Calgary Hospital, and a low when an expense report scandal broke involving its former CFO Allaudin Merali. Calgary researchers were at the forefront of many exciting studies. In May, a research team at the University of Calgary made a game changing discovery in the production of stem cells that would remove the ethical barriers associated with their production. Federally, the health system struggled with drug shortages, particularly after the Sandoz manufacturing facility was forced to halt production – leaving many patients without the pain medication they needed. 2012 also saw a return of the West Nile Virus as a Medicine Hat man became the first to die of the illness since 2007. |
February 2012: Health Quality Council Report finds physician intimidation a major problem within AHS
Alberta’s health care system has a lot of room for improvement. This conclusion was drawn after a ten month investigation conducted by the Alberta Health Quality Council into reports of substandard care and doctor intimidation.
March 2012: Drug shortage hits Calgary
A nationwide drug shortage showed up on Calgary’s doorstep in March. The Sandoz plant in Quebec shut down, leaving home care patients without the drugs needed to aid their treatment.
May 2012: Stem cell discovery at the University of Calgary
In May, a research team at the U of C made a ground breaking discovery in the production of stem cells that would remove the ethical barriers associated with their production. No longer would researchers rely on human embryos to harvest the life giving cells.
August 2012: AHS lets go of CFO over spending
The CFO for Alberta Health Services was let go over concerns about lavish spending. Allaudin Merali had been CFO since this May, but the 146 claims that total just over $346,000 date back at a few years.
September 2012: Is the South Hospital what the doctor ordered?
Long waits for emergency care, surgery, diagnostics and a shortage of family doctors. These are all problems that have plagued Alberta Health Services for years. But can the new South Hospital fix things?
October 2012: Medicine Hat father becomes a victim to West Nile virus
Medicine Hat resident Ron Sept became the first Albertan to die of West Nile virus since 2007.
November 2012: Health review pinpoints problems in Alberta
An investigation into a string of mistakes in 2011 was made public. The Health Quality Council had been investigating two separate incidents, one in Calgary and one in Edmonton, and after review serious system-wide problems have been identified.
December 2012: Merali’s expense audit
Details of Allaudin Merali’s lavish spending goes public after an external audit is conducted.
Legionnaire’s outbreak in Calgary
Alberta Health Services investigated an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in early December that saw 7 people in southwest Calgary infected. Fortunately, they all recovered after a short stay in hospital. In the last 9 years there have only been 39 cases of Legionnaire’s disease in Calgary.
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