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The impact of rural surgical and obstetrical services totaled over 70,000 procedures in the 2018/19 fiscal year. There are increasing challenges to coordinating sustainable 24/7 emergent care while attrition of rural surgical providers has resulted in the suspension of many of surgical and obstetrical services.

In June of 2021, the OGS helped bring together a cross-provincial working group to provide solutions to connect rural surgical and obstetrical services to regional and tertiary specialists. The working group proposed the development of the Rural Surgical and Obstetrical Networks of Alberta (RSONA) to enhance and sustain surgical and obstetrical services in rural Alberta. The goals of the networked model are to provide 24/7 care that responds to patient needs and create sustainability within the model to support the professionals and ancillary teams that provide essential care.

RSONA Pillars

1. Residency Training Program (RTP) - ensuring the availability of a qualified workforce.
2. Privileging Pathways - addressing inconsistencies in obtaining privileges.
3. Continuing Medical Education (CME) - with the inclusion of specialist providers (including digital solutions for virtual learning) that best support the maintenance of technical and non-technical skill maintainance.
4. Coaching - based on rural-regional/tertiary relationships and nurtures communities of practice.
5. Continuous Quality Improvement - evidence of safety, cost, health outcomes and patient satisfaction.
6. Organizational Framework – guides development of networks and facilitates communication.

The OGS supported the process to drive the proposal through approvals within AHS which was successful. RSONA received a multi-year, multi-million-dollar funding through Alberta Health Services in 2023. 

OGS PARTNERS

• AHS
  • Alberta Surgical Initiative
  • Surgery Strategic Clinical Network
  • Maternal Newborn Child and Youth Strategic Clinical Network
• Rural Health Professions Action Plan
• University of Calgary