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HEALTH: Review team appointed to examine disease infection and control in eastern and central Albert |
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(AlbertaIndex, April 10) --- The Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) has named a four-member team to identify issues and make recommendations related to infection prevention and control in the province’s East Central Health zone.
The four medical experts were chosen for their expertise in the fields of patient safety, quality improvement and infectious diseases to work with the region and St. Joseph's Hospital. The team, comprising Arlene Weidner, Linda Poloway, David Matheson and Mark Joffe, has already begun work on the review.
The council’s report will be provided to the Minister of Alberta Health and Wellness and made public once it is complete in summer 2007.
Ms Weidner has over 30 years of diverse health care experience in clinical, research, academic and administrative settings. Ms Poloway, currently a patient safety coordinator with David Thompson Health Region, is a pharmacist with extensive expertise in root cause analysis and patient safety.
Dr Matheson served as the Vice President of Medicine for British Columbia's Children's Hospital as well as Interim Vice President of Quality and Safety for Fraser Health Authority. He is currently an Associate Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia with a cross appointment to the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology.
Dr Joffe, a specialist in infectious diseases, is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta's Department of Medicine and is Medical Director of Infection Prevention Services for Capital Health at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton.
“I am confident this team of health professionals with proven experience and knowledge will provide a comprehensive review of factors contributing to the infection prevention and control issues at this facility,” said Dr John Cowell, chief executive officer of the Health Quality Council of Alberta.
“We expect the results of this review will help inform the whole health system. As an independent organization, the HQCA is committed to quality and safety improvement at the provincial level so it is vital we take what we learn and share it so others can learn.”
The Health Quality Council of Alberta has experience investigating quality and safety concerns. It is currently examining emergency and urgent care services in Calgary Health Region and has reviewed medication safety issues for David Thompson Health Region and Alberta Cancer Board following medication incidents.
The council is an independent organization legislated under the Regional Health Authorities Act with a mandate to promote and improve health service quality and patient safety across Alberta.
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