The Town of Rocky Mountain House has joined forces with Clearwater County in urging the province to address ongoing concerns surrounding the granting of surgical privileges at the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre.
The motion, passed unanimously by town council, mirrors similar concerns raised by Clearwater County, though with a slight change in language. While Clearwater County’s motion called for an “independent investigation,” Rocky’s town council opted for the term “inquiry,” as Deputy Mayor Tina Hutchinson says such language would avoid any implication of assumed wrongdoing.
Despite the subtle difference in wording, the issue at hand remains the same: a perceived double standard when it comes to the types of surgeries that are approved for Rocky’s hospital compared to those available at other rural health centres, such as those in Stettler and Drumheller.
Councillor Dale Shippelt noted the privileging process at Alberta Health Services (AHS) appears to be inconsistent. “What’s stopping us from offering the same services as Stettler or Drumheller?” Shippelt questioned during the March 20, 2025 meeting.
He pointed to the case of one surgeon who recently declined an offer to work at Rocky’s hospital, citing the need to commute to Drayton Valley twice a week and the inability to perform breast augmentation surgeries in Rocky.
Acting Mayor Len Phillips echoed Shippelt’s concerns, emphasizing the negative impact on the community, saying countless hours have been spent trying to recruit doctors, only for them to be told they can’t practice their specialty here.
It also reflects a growing frustration in both the town and county regarding the difficulties in obtaining qualified medical professionals due to the privileging process.
“It’s time for council to step in directly,” Phillips said. “This is something that affects all of our residents, and we need answers from AHS on how these decisions are being made.”
–
RELATED
- Grassroots organization sounds alarm about Rocky Hospital, AHS policies
- AHS, surgical groups commits to long-term success of Rocky surgical program
–
This motion is the latest in a series of efforts by local governments to address the privileging issue, following similar action by Clearwater County. The county recently called for an independent investigation into the practices of AHS’s Central Medical Affairs.
The Clearwater County motion, presented by Councillor Genny Mehlhaff earlier in March, also argued that the current privileging system is hurting the ability to serve the community effectively.
Shippelt adds that AHS Central Zone officials have expressed interest in meeting with local councils to attempt to set the record straight on how privileging practices work, but still supported the motion to saying it would “stir something”— allowing concerned voices to be heard.
Officials at the hospital have also reached out to other health centre managers across the province to discuss privileging.
–
RELATED
–
Comments