Rural Surgical and Obstetrical Networks of Alberta (RSONA)

The impact of rural surgical and obstetrical services totaled over 70,000 procedures in the 2018/19 fiscal year. There are increasing challenges to coordinating sustainable 24/7 emergent care while attrition of rural surgical providers has resulted in the suspension of many of surgical and obstetrical services.

In June of 2021, the OGS helped bring together a cross-provincial working group to provide solutions to connect rural surgical and obstetrical services to regional and tertiary specialists. The working group has proposed the development of the Rural Surgical and Obstetrical Networks of Alberta (RSONA) that include six project streams to operationalize it, including a residency program, continuing medical education, a coaching program, standardized privileging, continuous quality improvement and research, and organizational and financial frameworks to support the above streams. The OGS has supported this process to drive the proposal through approvals within AHS and will continue to support the development of the training and coaching programs as it is funded and operationalized.

OGS PARTNERS

  • AHS
    • Alberta Surgical Initiative
    • Surgery Strategic Clinical Network
    • Maternal Newborn Child and Youth Strategic Clinical Network
  • Rural Health Professions Action Plan
  • University of Calgary
RSONA White Paper Cover