Alberta Health Services Strategic Clinical Networks: an opportunity for KT research? David W. Johnson Alberta Children’s Hospital

Alberta Health Services KT Canada Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Today’s Audience

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Today’s Talk:  About KT Canada…..  AHS Strategic Clinical Networks  History  Major Deliverables  Role of Research  Structure  Existing Networks  Future Networks  Examples of work to date  Types of projects being encouraged  AIHS Funding Opportunities  Discussion/Questions

Creation of Alberta Health Services  In 2008…………  Largest merger in Canadian history  12 Health Regions & Boards (HR/Finance/IT Systems)  Largest employer in AB; 5th largest in Canada  Over 90,000 staff working with 10,000 physicians  102 Acute care hospitals  6,800 Acute care hospital beds  18,000 Long-term care & supportive living beds

AHS SCN: History

AHS Clinical Networks  First edition  Announced 2009  9 Networks that reported to clinician council  Wide range of approaches  Second edition  Announced Summer 2011  ‘Strategic Clinical Networks’ & ‘Operational Clinical Networks’  Two (now three) phases  First phase by Spring 2012 – 6 SCN & 3 OCN  Second phase Fall 2012 – 2 SCN  Third phase by March  Objectives more tightly prescribed & ‘the’ primary initiative

Major Deliverables of SCNs  Improving the health of Albertans: preventing diseases and injuries  Improving the quality of care (six dimensions of quality)  Decreasing unjustifiable variances in the quality of care  Improving value over time  Active knowledge translation of improvements into common practice in Alberta

Role of Research within SCNs  What will SCNs deliver?  “Foster important research that has an impact on patients”  20 characteristics of high-performing health system  “Evidence –informed treatments & approaches are used whenever possible and/or are pursued through research”  “Planning models with embedded research”  SCNs will:  “ Integrate strategic research and education into programs that seek, develop and support on-going system improvement and sustainability”

Levels of Development  Level 1 - Meeting the seven initiation criteria for forming an SCN  Level 2 - Establishing measures, pathways and models  Level 3 - Strategic priorities and zone/service improvements agreed  Level 4 - Establish provincial priorities with evidence; recommend resource allocation and new investment opportunities to executive as well as disinvestment and reinvestment opportunities within the strategic planning cycle outlined for AHS

First Phase Networks Strategic Clinical Networks Operational Clinical Networks  Addiction and Mental Health  Bone and Joint Health  Cancer Care  Cardiovascular and Stroke  Obesity, Diabetes and Nutrition  Seniors’ Health  Critical Care  Emergency Care  Surgery (trauma and anaesthesia)

Second Phase Networks Strategic Clinical Networks  Population Health and Health Promotion  Primary Care and Chronic Disease Management

Third Phase Networks Strategic Clinical Networks Operational Clinical Networks  Complex Medicine: Respiratory, Renal, GI and other medical specialties  Maternal Health  Newborn, Child and Youth Health  Neurological Disease, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and Vision  Diagnostic Imaging?  Laboratory Services?

Categories of Initial Projects  Signature Project  Potential for large impact on specific disease population  Re-assessment Project  Change current practice to improve care and ideally save money  Innovation/Research Project

Examples of Level 2 Projects Bone & Joint SCN Addiction & Mental Health SCN  Clinical Pathway for Fractured Hips  Major Foci – time to surgery, early rehabilitation, & recognition and treatment of osteoarthritis  Implement 15 hospitals  85% complete  Success to date – decreased times to surgery & rehab  Clinical Pathway for adult depression  Implemented in several pilot sites  Primary Care Network in Edmonton  Mental Health Clinic in Calgary  Rural Mental Health Clinic  Success to date – earlier recognition

Funding Opportunities  Collaborative Research and Innovation Opportunities (CRIO)  Translational Health Chairs  Knowledge Translation Research Grant  Catalyst Grants (to be announced soon)

Kelly Mrklas Contacts for AHS SCN dyad leads, etc. or KT Canada members/expertise?