Alberta Health Services report finds gaps in cardiac care outside major cities

Data from Alberta Health Services concludes cardiac care in the province isn't working for rural Albertans. It suggests two improvement for cardiac care outside of Calgary and Edmonton to improve survival rates for rural Albertans. Prevention and rehab supports need to be increased at five regional hospitals or extra cardiac supports and cardiac cath labs in Red Deer and Lethbridge. Looking specifically at central Alberta, AHS reports that:

• Fifty-eight central Albertans die of heart attack on average per year;
• Up to two of those deaths could be avoided with a catheterization lab; and
• Between 19 and 21 deaths would be avoided with other improved cardiac supports such as prevention programs.