How does CPSA fit into Alberta’s healthcare system? CPSA | cpsa.ca •
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Rural Health
CPSA is the regulatory college for physicians and physician assistants in Alberta. These professionals must be licensed by CPSA before they can practise and see patients in Alberta.
Professions Action Plan (RhPAP)
CPSA plays an essential role in protecting the public, ensuring doctors in Alberta are knowledgeable, professional and ethical in all their actions.
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ACFP is a professional organization that supports family physicians and learners through advocacy, continuing professional development opportunities and resources, and primary care research.
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ACFP is not a regulatory college and membership is voluntary.
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Federation
Networks
of Regulated
(SCNs)
Health
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Primary
Primary
Care Networks
Care Alliance
(PCN)
(PCA)
Council of
Covenant
Alberta
Health
Alberta’s provincial health service. On behalf of Alberta Health, AHS administers the delivery of healthcare services through their more than 900 provincially-owned sites, including hospitals, health centres and continuing care facilities. AHS’ care delivery excludes most community-based care, like the care you’d receive at a family medicine clinic.
(HQCA)
Physicians must have AHS privileging to work at AHS facilities, and international medical graduates secure sponsorship through AHS to begin working in Alberta.
Alberta
University
Advocates
University
Alberta
of Calgary
Health Services (AHS)
A provincial agency that works with patients, families and other groups to research and make suggestions for improving patient safety, person-centred care and health service quality. The HQCA reports to the Health Minister and works independent of AHS and AH.
Primary Care Alliance (PCA) | albertadoctors.org •
Under the Alberta Medical Association, the PCA is a group of healthcare organizations and primary care physicians who are interested in supporting and enhancing primary care in Alberta through a coordinated approach.
Alberta Health (AH)
Alberta Medical Association
PCNs are a collaboration between community physicians and AHS. PCNs take a team-based approach to health care by partnering physicians with other healthcare professionals to provide integrated healthcare services.
Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) | rhpap.ca •
RhPAP helps attract and retain healthcare workers in rural communities across Alberta. They strive to create workforces that help smaller Alberta towns thrive and access healthcare services closer to home.
Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) | ahs.ca/scns/scn.aspx •
(AMA)
Facilitated by AHS, SCNs explore different vital care areas, such as cancer, bone and joint health, and cardiovascular health, to find streamlined solutions to health system challenges and improve healthcare outcomes. These networks are collaborations between clinicians, researchers, healthcare organizations and patients.
Universities of Alberta and Calgary | ualberta.ca | cumming.ucalgary.ca
Alberta Patient Advocates | alberta.ca/office-of-alberta-health-advocate •
Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) | hqca.ca
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and
The Alberta Government’s ministry for health. AH establishes policy and legislation to promote and protect the health of patients in Alberta. They determine health budget spending, including working with health profession associations and unions to determine healthcare worker compensation, and facilitate provincial healthcare coverage through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP).
The professional association for physicians in Alberta. AMA represents physicians’ interests, advocates on their behalf and negotiates physician compensation with government. They also support physician wellness through their Physician and Family Support Program.
Covenant Health is a Catholic healthcare organization that provides care to Albertans of all faiths and those with no religious affiliations. They are accountable to AHS, together working in partnership to support patient care. Covenant Health has acute and long-term care centres across the province.
Primary Care Networks (PCN) | pcnpmo.ca/alberta-pcns
of Alberta
Patient
Alberta has 29 health profession colleges regulating approximately 36 professions. Each college exists because of provincial legislation known as the Health Professions Act and has the same general functions as CPSA for each respective profession.
Covenant Health | covenanthealth.ca
Health Quality
Alberta Medical Association (AMA) | albertadoctors.org •
Clinical
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CPSA
Alberta Health (AH) | alberta.ca/health •
Alberta
Alberta Federation of Regulated Health Professions (AFRHP) | afrhp.org
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Alberta Health Services (AHS) | albertahealthservices.ca •
Strategic
(AFRHP)
Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) | acfp.ca Alberta’s provincial branch of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Check out our handy graphic to learn about the various groups that make up Alberta’s healthcare system and how CPSA fits into the puzzle.
Professions
We do this in many ways, such as licensing physicians and physician assistants, investigating and resolving complaints, accrediting diagnostic and non-hospital surgical facilities, and ensuring our processes are as efficient as possible to support our partners in attracting doctors to our province.
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Our healthcare system is made up of a collaborative network of partners with the shared goal of ensuring safe, high-quality care and the best patient outcomes. Alberta has many organizations, each with their own unique role, that together keep our healthcare system working for patients and their families.
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The Alberta Health Advocate and Alberta Mental Health Advocate listens to patients about their healthcare concerns and champions patient self-advocacy. They provide patients with information and education, and assist patients with their concerns by directing them to the right avenue for resolution.
Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP)
Alberta’s two medical schools. The U of A and U of C are educational institutions that provide undergraduate and postgraduate medical education to medical learners in Alberta, with approximately 300 graduates combined every year.
National Canadian Medical Association (CMA) | cma.ca
Health Canada | canada.ca/en/health-canada
Public Health Agency of Canada | canada.ca/en/public-health
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CMA is the national association for physicians and medical learners. This group serves as a voice for physicians across the country who wish to research, support and advocate for a better healthcare system as well as improved outcomes for patients.
Health Canada promotes and protects the health, safety and wellness of Canadians. This federal agency regulates pharmaceuticals, determines what healthcare equipment, products and services are approved in Canada, and issues warnings and recalls on products that may harm or put Canadians at risk.
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) | cfpc.ca
Medical Council of Canada (MCC) | mcc.ca
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CFPC is the professional organization for family physicians across Canada. They set standards and accredit training programs for family medicine at the 17 medical schools across the country. They also review and certify professional development programs to support family physicians’ continued learning, certification and licensing requirements. CFPC is not a regulatory college and membership is voluntary.
Through exams, MCC assesses the critical medical knowledge and clinical skills required by all practising physicians in Canada to maintain safe healthcare services for patients. MCC grants the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), which verifies whether a physician has met national standards and can apply for independent practice through the provincial regulatory body of their choice.
The Public Health Agency of Canada focuses on preventing disease and injury as well as responding to public health threats, like COVID-19. They also promote overall mental and physical health and wellness for Canadians.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada | royalcollege.ca •
The Royal College is an association that oversees specialist physician education in Canada by accrediting university programs that train future specialists. They create and facilitate exams that medical residents must pass before becoming specialists and support continuing medical education for specialists in Canada.
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The Royal College is not a regulatory college and membership is voluntary.
Information sources used in this document are credited above and can be accessed for additional details. Information may be subject to change at any time and may not be reflected in this document.