In the News: AHS looking to improve FASD services

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Executive program manager for the Lakeland Centre for FASD, Lisa Murphy, encourages clients to participate in the FASD Patient Journey Project.

AHS looking to improve FASD services

FASD Patient Journey Project looking for people to interview

 

Those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) can’t always access the services available to them, and Alberta Health Services (AHS) is looking to change that.

The FASD Patient Journey Project is a province-wide initiative that addresses issues people could face when trying to access services, such as navigating the healthcare system.

The project looks to interview those diagnosed with FASD, along with their caregivers in various communities throughout Alberta. It began earlier this year, with some interviews taking place over the summer.

“It’s really important that it’s happening,” noted Lisa Murphy, executive program manager for the Lakeland Centre for FASD. “We get a better understanding of how people with FASD can navigate the health care system, and it allows us to improve the system for better services.”

Randal Bell, senior advisor for Indigenous populations and lead for the project with AHS, said, “The challenges facing the people accessing services in urban areas are going to be completely different than the challenges of people accessing services in the rural parts.”

He added, the questions included in the interview mainly focus on the services people have accessed and ones they feel are missing.

“The feedback I’m getting on the interviews so far is very positive, and people leave the interviews feeling invigorated and heard,” he explained.

Murphy added, “We know the health care system… process is quite challenging, and for individuals with FASD, it can be quite difficult. We want to see if there’s an issue with the system, or if there’s more supports needed for individuals with FASD.”

So far, Bell and his team have visited 36 communities throughout Alberta and conducted over 85 interviews.

 

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