The survey also provides information for each of the 17 Regional Health Authorities for their own planning, monitoring and performance measurements. The Alberta Health Survey is conducted annually and is one method of finding out the views of Albertans on the health system in Alberta. The information is used in developing, monitoring and reporting on Alberta Health and Wellness' three-year business plan. Several results will be reported in the Ministry's Annual Report, and the survey provides annual results for the Health Status core measure in Alberta Treasury's Measuring Up . The information is also shared with the Regional Health Authorities to assist with their planning and reporting activities.
Ratings are generally more positive in southern Alberta than in the northern regions.
There are certainly more challenges in providing the same access to health services in some of the remote northern areas. One of the goals of this survey is to track changes over the long term at the regional level and to make sure that this information is available to the Regional Health Authorities for their own analysis and planning. Further analyses of the survey results by the Regional Health Authorities, combined with their knowledge of local concerns and issues, will help them to interpret and respond to these trends. Overall Albertans continue to be positive about the quality of health services that they receive. Over three-quarters of Albertans have continued to rate the quality of care they received as either excellent or good.