Anesthesia care team
Charlene Moore, Alison Hogarth, Raveen Bhalla, Marianne Grohn, Jeff Little, Jennifer Dickison, McKenzie Kipling-Chapados, Shelley Winton, Warren Luksun, Scott Alberts, Bernard Sowa, Randi Bell
The anesthesia care team (ACT) at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital is redefining patient care through collaboration, efficiency and responsible resource management. Faced with a national anesthesiologist shortage, this innovative care model increases surgical capacity while maintaining high standards of safety and patient-centred care. This approach ensures more Albertans receive timely access to surgery, reducing wait times and improving health outcomes.
By leveraging a multidisciplinary model, ACT optimizes the skills of respiratory therapists and anesthesia assistants under the supervision of anesthesiologists. This structure not only expands surgical access but also upholds best practices through ongoing education, training and quality improvements. The result is a streamlined, patient-focused system that enhances both efficiency and safety.
Stewardship is at the core of the team’s work. Their model improves resource allocation by increasing surgical throughput while maintaining high standards of care. Th efficiencies realized include optimizing operating room management, reducing patient turnover times and ensuring responsible medication use while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability healthcare delivery.
The ACT model is an example of a transformative approach in health care that prioritizes collaborative practice, patient-centered care and the use of diverse expertise to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. This model is a new initiative in Alberta that aligns with Covenant Health's vision of leading healthcare transformation. The Misericordia Community Hospital has begun implementing this model.
Stewardship in the ACT model manages resources and models integrity, responsibility, and ethical care practices. It prioritizes patient well-being and organizational efficiency.