Summary
Objective and Scope
The objective of this audit was to determine whether the Department of Health (Alberta Health) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) effectively actioned a pandemic and outbreak response to COVID-19 in publicly funded continuing care facilities.
We did this audit to identify areas for improvement so that Alberta Health, AHS, and the entire continuing care sector are better prepared for future pandemics and can incorporate learnings from COVID-19 to other more common communicable disease outbreaks, such as seasonal influenza.
Our audit looked at the activities related to the public health response by Alberta Health and AHS to COVID-19 in AHS-owned and operated, as well as contracted long-term care and designated supportive living facilities. At March 31, 2020, there were 355 facilities receiving public health funding to provide these services.
Conclusion
Based on our audit criteria, we conclude that Alberta Health and AHS were able to action a response to COVID-19 in publicly funded continuing care facilities, but not all processes were effective and improvements can be made.