Following extensive discussion, senior leaders have adjusted the timing and scope of Connect Care’s Waves 2 and 3, and modified the scope of Waves 4 and 5. Wave 1 launched in November 2019 successfully and we want to align upcoming launch plans with lessons learned.
Patient care and safety, along with the needs of staff and physicians, is at the forefront of all of planning decisions, including this one. While mindful of healthcare funding constraints, the Connect Care initiative continues to be fully resourced to achieve its original completion targets. This includes working to resolve outstanding issues and challenges. We want to optimize timing so that staff and physicians within future waves are ready and supported at their launch dates.
Here is a summary of the modified Connect Care wave sequencing and timing:
- Waves 2 and 3 (launching in May 2020) will include Calgary Zone rural and urgent care sites and the clinics and services aligned with those, and Edmonton Zone suburban sites.
- All of the Central Zone rollout, initially planned for Wave 2, will be moved to Wave 4.
- Waves 4 and 5 have scope and timelines recalibrated to ensure they are not too compressed by the delay of Central Zone’s rollout. The wave implementation schedule remains the same.
- Wave 4 (launching November 2020) will include the Royal Alexandra and Glenrose Hospitals in Edmonton Zone, all of Central Zone and Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary Zone.
- Wave 5 (launching May 2021) includes Peace Country and Grande Prairie hospitals) in North Zone, the Foothills Medical Centre and South Health Campus hospitals in Calgary Zone, cancer programs in the north and south, and the coinciding rural labs.
- The scope and sequencing of Waves 6, 7, 8 and 9 are being reviewed and details about any changes or updates to those waves will be available in the coming weeks.
- The timing for the rollout of Connect Care within Kidney Care North and South is still being determined.
- Wave 1 launched in November, 2019 and included the University, Mazankowski and Stollery hosptials, outpatient clinics across Edmonton Zone, the East Edmonton Health Centre, Pharmacy and Diagnostic Imaging sites in the Edmonton Zone, Alberta Public Labs sites in Edmonton and the North Zone, DynaLIFE sites across Alberta and the lab at the Cross Cancer Institute.
The current plan reflects the best information available today. We may need to make future adjustments as we continue to learn from, and adapt to, each Connect Care launch. We’ll also continue to be responsive to the needs of patients, families, staff and physicians.