Danielle Smith takes aim at middle management in Alberta Health Services
Danielle Smith takes aim at middle management in Alberta Health Services
Bell: Premier Smith vows AHS will have '
new faces' to shake things up
When will Smith bring back a board to oversee things at AHS?
The premier is not in a hurry
Author of the article: ick Bell
Published Jun 30, 2023
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Health-care officials stay quiet on Hinshaw dismissal
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It is a month since the UCP election win.
Just as Smith said to this columnist many months ago, she wanted to hold the party’s legislature seats in the country and win 10 to 15 seats in Calgary.
The UCP did both.
As for the summer, Smith says she’ll be going around the province gladhanding and flipping flapjacks.
As far as the politics beyond the pancakes?
“The work is going to be centred around our relationship with the federal government. At the moment I’m trying to find common cause with the federal government.”
Smith wants AHS middle management on
Oct. 24, 2022
Premier Danielle Smith believes part of restructuring Alberta Health Services should include pushing "middle managers" to the health care system’s frontlines.
"When you have senior people, you do have to pay senior people at a level that allows them to take on that responsibility," said Smith.
"But I'm more interested in that middle-management layer and getting more of those individuals pushed down to the front line."
Smith says AHS will see a major overhaul by the end of the year.
During the United Conservative Party's annual general meeting this past weekend, a motion to fire 700 AHS senior managers and administrators earning more than $140,000 per year was defeated.
Calgary registered nurse Jennifer Denesuk agrees changes are needed within AHS to get the health care system back on track.
"It was pretty much in shambles before the pandemic and when the pandemic hit, I think people on the outside got to see what (a) shambles it really is," said Denesuk.
"The system is broken down and it (didn’t) just start in one spot and work, you have to start at the top and the bottom."
Denesuk says some units were not staffed correctly prior to the pandemic.
"I might have been the only RN and instead of finding other RNs to come in and work, they brought in seven health care aides," she said.
"That's not going to help you on a unit."
SMITH WILL SCRAP AHS AGREEMENT WITH WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
In July 2020, AHS caught the eye of the World Economic Forum, asking it to be part of its Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare.
AHS says the goal was to play a role in shaping the future of health care on the international stage.
However, Smith said on a livestream broadcast last week that the agreement, which includes information sharing, will be ripped up.
Klaus Schwab, WEF executive chairman, has consistently been linked to conspiracy theories of a globalist elite world agenda, where he will take over world governments and eradicate capitalism.
"I don't think he's a medical doctor, I don't think he's a nurse and I don't think he's a paramedic," said Smith on Monday.
"As I've said, I am going to be taking advice from our frontline nurses, doctors, paramedics and health professionals to fix the local problems."
Smith said she finds it "distasteful when billionaires brag about how much control they have over political leaders as the head of that organization has."
"I think that that is offensive," continued Smith. "The people who should be directing government are the people who vote for them. And the people who vote for me and for my colleagues are people who live in Alberta, and who are affected by our decisions. And so, quite frankly, until that organization stops bragging about how much control they have over political leaders, I have no interest in being involved with them.
"My focus is here in Alberta solving problems for Albertans with the mandate from Albertans."
HEALTH CARE UNIONS CALL FOR MEETING WITH PREMIER, HEALTH MINISTER
Members from Alberta’s health care worker unions held a media conference insisting on meeting with Health Minister Jason Copping, and the premier as she gets set to restructure the system.
Mike Parker, Health Sciences Association of Alberta president says there are challenges within the health care system, but they need to be addressed and not blown up.
"This system does work, but it's being starved out," said Parker. "Our hospitals are closed down in rural communities, there is no access to physicians or allied health service, so people are now coming hundreds of kilometres to have their own children."
The United Nurses of Alberta believe problems have been manufactured within the system, but due to neglect and lack of funding for resources that have caused staffing shortages.
"We have a premier who is announcing that her first set of actions is to further destabilize worksites that are already under incredible stress," said UNA president Heather Smith.
Copping was not made available following the swearing in of cabinet ministers on Monday.
Author of the article: ick Bell
Published Jun 30, 2023
Premier Danielle Smith speaks during a Calgary Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Calgary on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
PHOTO BY GAVIN YOUNG /Postmedia
Premier Danielle Smith is serious.
Smith is in Calgary Thursday.
She’s talking about doing a housecleaning at AHS, a message she’s been spreading well before she ran for the leadership of the UCP and won the job supported by folks who were mighty displeased with the way the health system in Alberta was being run.
“I think it’s no secret I’ve had frustration there is a lot of middle management in Alberta Health Services and it becomes really difficult for those on the front line to find anybody to get to a Yes,” says Smith.
A Yes for change.
“There’s lots of people who will tell you No or delay or say we’re not sure.
“We need to have decision-makers who can say Yes.”
AHS paper-shufflers, we hope you’re reading this memo.
Smith says she wants more decisions made at the regional level, the local level, the hospital level.
Yep, we’ve come full circle from 15 years back.
Alberta moved to one province-wide health outfit, the so-called AHS superboard, when Premier Ed Stelmach got sick and tired of dealing with the likes of Calgary Health Region boss Jack Davis, who wanted the province to cough up health-care cash pronto during an election campaign and summoned the press to get the news out in the boldest headlines possible.
Smith continues.
“We’re going to have new faces who are going to lead the effort. It’s up to John to choose the personnel. I’m not going to comment on every personnel change he makes.
“But we need to have the right people in the right place doing the right things in Alberta Health Services. That’s what we’re going to be focused on over the next six months.”
John is Dr. John Cowell, running the shop at Alberta Health Services ever since Smith fired the AHS board.
She credits Cowell with “effectively ending red alerts at EMS” and “making great progress in reducing surgical wait times.”
Smith suggests AHS types should now get with the program.
“To me, we got a mandate to continue the work we’re doing on reform. So people need to get on board. We’re making some progress in some areas but we’ve got a whole lot more work to be done.”
When will Smith bring back a board to oversee things at AHS?
The premier is not in a hurry.
“We have to make the structural changes first,” she says.
In six months, she’ll look at whether “enough progress” has been made.
“It gives you an idea of how quickly I want to move on decisions.”
Premier Danielle Smith is serious.
Smith is in Calgary Thursday.
She’s talking about doing a housecleaning at AHS, a message she’s been spreading well before she ran for the leadership of the UCP and won the job supported by folks who were mighty displeased with the way the health system in Alberta was being run.
“I think it’s no secret I’ve had frustration there is a lot of middle management in Alberta Health Services and it becomes really difficult for those on the front line to find anybody to get to a Yes,” says Smith.
A Yes for change.
“There’s lots of people who will tell you No or delay or say we’re not sure.
“We need to have decision-makers who can say Yes.”
AHS paper-shufflers, we hope you’re reading this memo.
Smith says she wants more decisions made at the regional level, the local level, the hospital level.
Yep, we’ve come full circle from 15 years back.
Alberta moved to one province-wide health outfit, the so-called AHS superboard, when Premier Ed Stelmach got sick and tired of dealing with the likes of Calgary Health Region boss Jack Davis, who wanted the province to cough up health-care cash pronto during an election campaign and summoned the press to get the news out in the boldest headlines possible.
Smith continues.
“We’re going to have new faces who are going to lead the effort. It’s up to John to choose the personnel. I’m not going to comment on every personnel change he makes.
“But we need to have the right people in the right place doing the right things in Alberta Health Services. That’s what we’re going to be focused on over the next six months.”
John is Dr. John Cowell, running the shop at Alberta Health Services ever since Smith fired the AHS board.
She credits Cowell with “effectively ending red alerts at EMS” and “making great progress in reducing surgical wait times.”
Smith suggests AHS types should now get with the program.
“To me, we got a mandate to continue the work we’re doing on reform. So people need to get on board. We’re making some progress in some areas but we’ve got a whole lot more work to be done.”
When will Smith bring back a board to oversee things at AHS?
The premier is not in a hurry.
“We have to make the structural changes first,” she says.
In six months, she’ll look at whether “enough progress” has been made.
“It gives you an idea of how quickly I want to move on decisions.”
Premier Danielle Smith listens as Dr. John Cowell, official administrator with AHS answers questions during a press conference on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
PHOTO BY GAVIN YOUNG /Postmedia
Well, lookee here. Smith also tells us Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is coming for the Calgary Stampede and she will have a sit-down with the man himself.
The premier says Trudeau’s people told her she could pick three topics.
She picked energy, energy, energy.
“We’ve got to push back against the federal government on all things making life unaffordable for Albertans,” says Smith.
Then there’s Take Back Alberta, the group more commonly known as TBA, who claim credit for running former premier Jason Kenney out of office and replacing him with Smith.
There’s the yearly UCP gabfest in early November. At the last get-together, TBA won every seat up for grabs on the party’s board.
They want to flex some muscle again.
Now, TBA numero uno David Parker takes to Twitter and goes after Cynthia Moore, the party’s president and long-time conservative, who is no favourite of the group.
Parker accuses Moore of treating “grassroots Albertans like criminals” and “being consistently at war” with the UCP board, half of them backed by TBA.
Parker says the party prez “yelled at, bullied and belittled regular party members to find anyone associated with Take Back Alberta.”
The TBA leader says Moore must resign, agree not to run for UCP president again or “be humiliated” when party members meet in November.
Smith says she supports every member of the party executive and at the November meeting it will be one member, one vote “and we’ll potentially see some new faces.”
RECOMMENDED FROM EDITORIAL
Well, lookee here. Smith also tells us Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is coming for the Calgary Stampede and she will have a sit-down with the man himself.
The premier says Trudeau’s people told her she could pick three topics.
She picked energy, energy, energy.
“We’ve got to push back against the federal government on all things making life unaffordable for Albertans,” says Smith.
Then there’s Take Back Alberta, the group more commonly known as TBA, who claim credit for running former premier Jason Kenney out of office and replacing him with Smith.
There’s the yearly UCP gabfest in early November. At the last get-together, TBA won every seat up for grabs on the party’s board.
They want to flex some muscle again.
Now, TBA numero uno David Parker takes to Twitter and goes after Cynthia Moore, the party’s president and long-time conservative, who is no favourite of the group.
Parker accuses Moore of treating “grassroots Albertans like criminals” and “being consistently at war” with the UCP board, half of them backed by TBA.
Parker says the party prez “yelled at, bullied and belittled regular party members to find anyone associated with Take Back Alberta.”
The TBA leader says Moore must resign, agree not to run for UCP president again or “be humiliated” when party members meet in November.
Smith says she supports every member of the party executive and at the November meeting it will be one member, one vote “and we’ll potentially see some new faces.”
RECOMMENDED FROM EDITORIAL
Smith says Alberta is prepared to push back against Clean Fuel Regulation
Bell: Premier Smith is out, now it's AHS, Dr. John Cowell and Hinshaw
Health-care officials stay quiet on Hinshaw dismissal
What is Take Back Alberta? What you need to know about 'pro-freedom' conservative group
It is a month since the UCP election win.
Just as Smith said to this columnist many months ago, she wanted to hold the party’s legislature seats in the country and win 10 to 15 seats in Calgary.
The UCP did both.
As for the summer, Smith says she’ll be going around the province gladhanding and flipping flapjacks.
As far as the politics beyond the pancakes?
“The work is going to be centred around our relationship with the federal government. At the moment I’m trying to find common cause with the federal government.”
Good luck with that.
rbell@postmedia.com
rbell@postmedia.com
Smith wants AHS middle management on
front lines as she plans to restructure
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the United Conservative Party AGM in Edmonton on Oct. 22, 2022.
Tyson Fedor
CTV News Calgary Video Journalist
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the United Conservative Party AGM in Edmonton on Oct. 22, 2022.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
Tyson Fedor
CTV News Calgary Video Journalist
Oct. 24, 2022
Premier Danielle Smith believes part of restructuring Alberta Health Services should include pushing "middle managers" to the health care system’s frontlines.
"When you have senior people, you do have to pay senior people at a level that allows them to take on that responsibility," said Smith.
"But I'm more interested in that middle-management layer and getting more of those individuals pushed down to the front line."
Smith says AHS will see a major overhaul by the end of the year.
During the United Conservative Party's annual general meeting this past weekend, a motion to fire 700 AHS senior managers and administrators earning more than $140,000 per year was defeated.
Calgary registered nurse Jennifer Denesuk agrees changes are needed within AHS to get the health care system back on track.
"It was pretty much in shambles before the pandemic and when the pandemic hit, I think people on the outside got to see what (a) shambles it really is," said Denesuk.
"The system is broken down and it (didn’t) just start in one spot and work, you have to start at the top and the bottom."
Denesuk says some units were not staffed correctly prior to the pandemic.
"I might have been the only RN and instead of finding other RNs to come in and work, they brought in seven health care aides," she said.
"That's not going to help you on a unit."
SMITH WILL SCRAP AHS AGREEMENT WITH WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
In July 2020, AHS caught the eye of the World Economic Forum, asking it to be part of its Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare.
AHS says the goal was to play a role in shaping the future of health care on the international stage.
However, Smith said on a livestream broadcast last week that the agreement, which includes information sharing, will be ripped up.
Klaus Schwab, WEF executive chairman, has consistently been linked to conspiracy theories of a globalist elite world agenda, where he will take over world governments and eradicate capitalism.
"I don't think he's a medical doctor, I don't think he's a nurse and I don't think he's a paramedic," said Smith on Monday.
"As I've said, I am going to be taking advice from our frontline nurses, doctors, paramedics and health professionals to fix the local problems."
Smith said she finds it "distasteful when billionaires brag about how much control they have over political leaders as the head of that organization has."
"I think that that is offensive," continued Smith. "The people who should be directing government are the people who vote for them. And the people who vote for me and for my colleagues are people who live in Alberta, and who are affected by our decisions. And so, quite frankly, until that organization stops bragging about how much control they have over political leaders, I have no interest in being involved with them.
"My focus is here in Alberta solving problems for Albertans with the mandate from Albertans."
HEALTH CARE UNIONS CALL FOR MEETING WITH PREMIER, HEALTH MINISTER
Members from Alberta’s health care worker unions held a media conference insisting on meeting with Health Minister Jason Copping, and the premier as she gets set to restructure the system.
Mike Parker, Health Sciences Association of Alberta president says there are challenges within the health care system, but they need to be addressed and not blown up.
"This system does work, but it's being starved out," said Parker. "Our hospitals are closed down in rural communities, there is no access to physicians or allied health service, so people are now coming hundreds of kilometres to have their own children."
The United Nurses of Alberta believe problems have been manufactured within the system, but due to neglect and lack of funding for resources that have caused staffing shortages.
"We have a premier who is announcing that her first set of actions is to further destabilize worksites that are already under incredible stress," said UNA president Heather Smith.
Copping was not made available following the swearing in of cabinet ministers on Monday.
