Message from the Minister of Health and Wellness

I am pleased to provide Alberta’s 2004 Report on Comparable Health Indicators.

This is the second report Alberta has published since our province agreed in 2000 with all other Canadian health ministries to provide regular public reporting of health performance.

Common health indicators give us a standard way to compare health status, health outcomes and quality of service. It is important Albertans understand how well our health care system is performing - not only in the areas we are succeeding, but also where we need to improve.

Our 2004 report provides a clear and concise account of how well we are keeping Albertans healthy and treating them when they are sick. We have chosen to report on the health indicator results required by the national accord under four key themes:

• Improving access to health services

• Improving quality care

• Keeping Albertans healthy

• Primary health care

The separate reports rate our performance under these themes and also document the initiatives we are taking to improve the health of Albertans and the effectiveness of how health services are provided.

Highlights of Alberta results

Results show Albertans have similar or slightly better self-reported health status compared with the Canadian average. Our waiting times for services are close to the national average. Here are some highlights from our results:

• Alberta has one of the lowest in-hospital mortality rates and hospital re-admission rates for patients following a heart attack. 

• About 90 per cent of Albertans reported receiving service within three months for non-emergency surgery, a specialist visit or diagnostic tests.

• Statistics Canada shows 63.9 per cent of Albertans reported very good or excellent health in 2003, compared to 58.4 per cent of Canadians.

• On average, more Albertans are physically active (55.6 per cent) than Canadians are nationally (51.7 per cent).

• An estimate for 2000 shows 4.1 per cent of Albertans have been diagnosed with diabetes, slightly lower than the Canadian average.

• In 2003, Alberta teen smoking rates were comparable to the 2003 Canadian average.

• Alberta households spend a lower percentage of household income on prescription drugs than most Canadians.

Some indicators show there is still room for improvement. Alberta has a higher rate of hospitalization for certain chronic conditions compared to the national average. The self-reported influenza immunization rate for Alberta seniors has increased from 59 per cent in 1996 to 64 per cent in 2003, slightly below the Canadian average.

Our results present the most recent statistics available from Statistics Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and Alberta Health and Wellness.

Iris Evans
Minister of Health and Wellness