History
Cancer Surgery Alberta was established in 1998 to address the lack of readily available treatment guidelines and outcomes data for cancer surgery in consultation with health regions, the Alberta Association of General Surgeons, the Alberta Medical Association, Alberta Health and Wellness, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
Goals
1. To ensure that all Albertans diagnosed with cancer have access to appropriate surgical intervention that is delivered:
- using a multidisciplinary approach when indicated
- in a timely manner
- with appropriate resources
- and as close to home as possible.
2. To address the need for treatment standards development and implementation for cancer surgery.
3. To improve cancer surgical outcomes by measuring and reporting on predetermined and meaningful outcome indicators.
4. To facilitate the professional growth of surgeons by establishing a continuing education program in cancer surgery that is open to innovation and implements best practices.
5. To provide leadership in conducting research that enables knowledge transfer to achieve better outcomes.
Objectives
- To establish the presence of surgical oncology expertise in each Health Zone.
- To reduce local recurrence rates in cancer surgery and improve patient outcomes.
- To establish access to accurate and relevant patient health information in a timely manner.
- To reduce wait times for cancer surgery.
- To assist surgeons in maintaining and developing new expertise in cancer surgery.
- To collaborate with Health Zones, other cancer agencies and academic centres in the provision of quality cancer surgery programs.
