SORC
Presented
Geographic Context of Publicly Posted Complete Obstetric Service Unavailability in Alberta: A Retrospective Archive-Based Analysis
Tung A, Nurmambetova E, Zhang M.
Original Study. Poster Presentation. Presented at the Federation of Medical Women of Canada 2026 Annual Meeting.
Abstract
Background
Complete local obstetric service unavailability may require patients to seek care outside their community. We characterized the duration of publicly posted complete obstetric service unavailability in Alberta and the proximity of affected sites to another currently listed maternity-related service.
Methods
Using Alberta Health Services archived disruption snapshots and news or notice postings, we reconstructed intervals from August 1, 2021, to June 30, 2026, during which all local obstetric services or obstetric coverage were reported as unavailable. Repeated captures were reconciled, recurring schedules were expanded, and overlapping intervals were unioned within each site and calendar year. For each affected site, road distance and estimated driving time to the nearest other facility matching predefined maternity-related terms were calculated using a local OSRM automobile-routing matrix based on the Geofabrik Alberta OpenStreetMap extract and an AHS directory reviewed July 26, 2026.
Results
Thirty-six sites contributed 262,232 cumulative site-hours, representing 67.2% of reconstructed maternity-disruption site-hours. The median road distance to another currently directory-listed maternity-related facility was 77.7 km (IQR 41.2–89.7), corresponding to 61.5 driving minutes (IQR 34.2–72.7). Six sites were at least 100 road km away, and Slave Lake and Wabasca were at least 120 driving minutes away. Sundre, Rimbey, Three Hills, and Westlock contributed 157,896 site-hours (60.2%) but were 38.0–62.4 road km from another currently listed maternity-related facility.
Conclusion
Duration burden and geographic separation were distinct dimensions of publicly documented obstetric-service instability. Most cumulative hours were concentrated at four sites with shorter estimated driving times, whereas several lower-burden communities were more geographically isolated. Distances based on the current AHS directory provide geographic context only and do not establish historical service availability, actual patient travel, or clinical suitability.
SORC
In Progress
Temporary emergency department service disruptions in Alberta from 2021 to 2026
Tung A, Nguyen V, Zhang M, Beamish L, Cross E.
Original Study. In preparation.
Abstract
Objectives
To characterize the burden, timing, and geographic context of temporary emergency department (ED) service disruptions in Alberta using public service disruption postings.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of Alberta Health Services temporary service disruption listings and public notices from August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2026. Posted disruptions were reconstructed into site-level disruption periods, with overlapping periods combined to avoid double counting. We summarized disruption hours by site, year, time of week, timing structure, and posted reason. Road distance and estimated driving time to the nearest other listed ED were modelled, and concurrent disruption at that ED was measured.
Results
Fifty EDs had 162,721 posted disruption hours. Burden was concentrated at a small number of sites, with the ten highest-burden EDs accounting for 78.2% of all hours. Night accounted for 52.6% of disruption hours despite representing 37.5% of calendar time. Scheduled and Sustained patterns accounted for 83.9% of all disruption hours. Workforce shortages were mentioned in notices covering 69.5% of hours. The median road distance to the nearest other listed ED was 49.4 km, and 16 of 50 affected EDs had at least some concurrent disruption at that site.
Conclusions
Temporary ED service disruption in Alberta was concentrated at a small number of sites and frequently recurred, particularly overnight. Time-based monitoring can capture recurring service loss and concurrent disruption at the nearest listed ED that closure counts alone do not.
SORC
In Progress
Rural Maternity Service Instability in Alberta: An Archive-Based Analysis of Publicly Posted Hospital Service Disruptions
Tung A, Zhang M, Nurmambetova E, Kornelsen J.
Original Study. In preparation.
Abstract
Background
Temporary hospital disruptions can affect local delivery care, caesarean capability, epidural access, and maternity backup. Alberta Health Services (AHS) publicly posts these changes, but their cumulative burden is not available in a single system-level dataset. We characterized publicly documented maternity-related hospital capability disruptions across Alberta using archived records.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective descriptive reconstruction of AHS temporary service-disruption postings from August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2026. We included postings explicitly affecting maternity care, labour and delivery, caesarean or operative maternity capability, epidural access, or maternity backup. Snapshot and notice records were standardized by site, deduplicated, and reconstructed into dated intervals. Reopening notices and subsequent postings were used only when they provided source-supported evidence of a changed endpoint. Overlapping intervals at the same site were unioned to estimate unique site-level disruption hours. Capability layers overlap and are therefore not additive.
Results
Across 45 sites, 520 reconstructed disruption periods contributed 394,216.2 unioned disruption hours. Annual burden was highest in 2022 at 92,570.5 h and remained substantial in 2023 (85,798.5 h), 2024 (76,257.5 h), and 2025 (74,182.8 h). 38,536.0 h were recorded through July 31, 2026. The highest cumulative burdens occurred in Sundre, Rimbey, Three Hills, Slave Lake, and Westlock. Disruptions affecting all obstetric services and caesarean, epidural, or surgical backup capability were common, but layer-specific hours are non-additive.
Conclusion
Publicly posted AHS records show recurrent and sustained loss of maternity-related hospital capability across Alberta. Several high-burden sites reflect long posted suspensions, including intervals already active at the archive start and therefore left-censored. Capability-specific reporting better reflects operational changes that may affect local delivery access, while these public records do not establish real-time availability, patient outcomes, or a formal rurality classification.