Health workers critical of recovery centre move
Relocation to Alberta Hospital Edmonton alienates inner-city patients, doctor says
The Addiction Recovery Centre operating out of the Alberta Hospital will likely put an increased strain on the health-care system and deter individuals from attending, workers say.
As of Wednesday, the Addiction Recovery Centre's (ARC) new temporary home is at Alberta Hospital Edmonton (AHE), after it was determined construction with the city's LRT expansion project would impact the quality of patient care at the centre located at 10302 107 St.
However, workers at the Royal Alexandra Hospital who help refer patients to the ARC are concerned that moving a vital resource for vulnerable individuals who are concentrated in the inner city is “extremely problematic.”
Many patients requesting detox are homeless, don't have money, or don't have access to a vehicle. It would take a patient using Edmonton transit at least an hour and two to three transfers coming from the hospital to self-present at the recovery centre.
“To ask these patients, who are either acutely intoxicated or withdrawing or suffering from medical conditions to try to navigate that to get there is very problematic, where instead they probably will miss this opportunity to detox or seek addictions resources,” said Dr. Shazma Mithani.
In a statement, Alberta Health Services spokesman Kerry Williamson said the decision to temporarily relocate the ARC to the Alberta Hospital was made after many options were explored.
“It was determined that AHE will offer patients the smoothest transition and best care based on their needs,” he said.
“AHS will continue to provide support to all clients and external partners to ensure a successful transition.”
Williamson said the transportation team at the Alberta Hospital is working with AHS community partners to assist clients that require transportation to and from the ARC.
“AHE has a fleet of passenger vans and small buses that will provide critical transportation services to ARC clients,” he said.
Many of the patients Mithani sends to the ARC are those with alcohol use disorder. They will come to the hospital and, during the course of treatment, disclose they would like to detox. If the patient is identified as one who can detox outside of a hospital setting, the ARC is the best option.
A nurse or social worker will then contact the ARC to see if a space is available.
“They do a bit of an intake over the phone with the nurse or the social worker, they save that bed for them, and then we put things in motion to get them transferred over to ARC,” Mithani said.
If there is no bed available and the patient can be safely discharged, they are given the option to attend the ARC during the morning intake hours and self-present. At the Downtown location, this meant travelling just a few blocks from the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Patients are also dealing with a number of social barriers, where they may be stressed and vulnerable.
“Adding something like this to their plate, it could be the difference between them seeking detox that is potentially life-saving for them and not,” Mithani said. “It is very much doing our patients a disservice.”
Another concern is overwhelming paramedic crews. In an inter-facility transfer, going from a hospital to the ARC, patients must be taken by ambulance.
“To have to wait in excess of 24 hours sometimes for transport is going to be very problematic,”
Adding something like this to their plate, it could be the difference between them seeking detox ... and not.
Mithani said. “Then what that might end up meaning is that these patients end up getting into the hospital and putting even more stress on an already stressed acute care system.
Patients might also self-present to the ARC, but there won't be space available, and the patient will then call EMS to be taken to another hospital, tying up resources.
Williamson noted the ARC'S move to the Alberta Hospital is temporary, however, there is no update on a permanent location, but work to determine one is underway.
“Patients will be offered the same quality of care, resources and safety at AHE that they experienced at ARC'S previous location,” he said. “This comes in addition to a number of other advantages available at AHE, such as increased programming spaces and a robust transportation department to support patient access.”