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<\/p>\nEdmonton orthopedic surgeons are warning of widespread surgery cancellations in coming weeks due to a funding dispute over how Alberta compensates another group of hospital doctors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Patient care disruptions are likely when stipend contracts for surgical hospitalists expire as of April 1, according to both the surgeons and provincial health officials. Surgical hospitalists manage pre-and post-operative care, allowing surgeons to remain in the operating room.<\/p>\n
In a statement, officials from Acute Care Alberta say they are closely monitoring staffing levels to ensure surgical access is maintained after the stipend contracts come to an end.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we acknowledge there may be a need to reschedule some orthopedic surgeries in Edmonton due to potential changes to perioperative support, [Alberta Health Services (AHS)] and Covenant Health are actively working to enhance alternative support for perioperative care,\u201d the agency said Monday in a statement to CBC News.<\/p>\n
“Operating rooms will not sit\u00a0empty; they will be used for other surgeries.\u00a0If we receive formal cancellation notices from surgeons, we will support patients with rescheduling and arrangements for alternate care will be provided.” <\/p>\n
Correspondence outlines concerns<\/p>\n
The impending risk of surgical cancellations are outlined in a letter from Dr. Angela Scharfenberger, divisional director of orthopedic surgery at the University of Alberta Hospital and interim lead of orthopedic surgery in the Edmonton region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An email sent by Scharfenberger to members of the orthopedic service was accompanied by a background paper and briefing note, dated March 13. The email stated those documents had been sent to Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange and Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones. <\/p>\n
Scharfenberger has not responded to interview requests. Her correspondence was obtained Tuesday by CBC News and verified by four medical professionals in Edmonton who said they received it.<\/p>\n
In the documents, Scharfenberger says the likely loss of surgical hospitalists would have \u201cimmediate and profound impacts.\u201d These could include\u00a0 the closure of orthopedic inpatient services at multiple Edmonton hospitals, significant delays in trauma surgery, the cancellation of elective inpatient procedures, including joint replacement, and increased pressure on emergency departments and internal medicine services.<\/p>\n
According to the documents, the impact would be most acute for inpatient orthopedic surgeries \u2014 that is, procedures for bone and joint repair that require extended hospital stays for recovery and rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing April 1, 2026, it is expected that inpatient orthopedic surgery across all sites in Edmonton would be cancelled due to the lack of safe medical co\u2010management and adequate acute care coverage,\u201d Scharfenberger writes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘A compensation dispute’<\/p>\n
When asked about the correspondence at the legislature Tuesday, Jones said the province has not received any formal notification from physicians that they plan to withdraw or change their provision of services following the contract change.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo formal notification has been provided, but of course we’re planning in case there is some service withdrawal,\u201d Jones said from the legislature on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that we get through what this is, which is a compensation dispute, and ultimately, that we put patients first on April 1.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
LaGrange\u2019s press secretary said the minister declined to comment on Scharfenberger\u2019s correspondence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
WATCH | Letter warns of coming disruptions to patient care:<\/p>\n
Edmonton doctors warn surgeries could be cancelled over hospitalist pay <\/p>\n
A letter sent by a group of doctors to two Alberta cabinet ministers last month, which was shared with CBC News, warns of possible surgery cancellations if a deal isn’t in place by April 1 to compensate hospitalists. Natasha Riebe has the details.Changing model of payment<\/p>\n
Hospitalists, many of whom are family physicians, are currently paid through a hybrid model that includes fee-for-service payments plus stipends. The latter were introduced in the late 1990s, according to Scharfenberger.\u00a0<\/p>\n