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RECOVERY ALBERTA

For Correctional Health Services

Information on health services for individuals incarcerated in provincial correctional facilities.

 

ON THIS PAGE:

Services

Correctional Health Services provides health care to approximately 3,500 adults and youth at Alberta’s 10 provincial correctional facilities.

Individuals in correctional facilities receive the same care as in the community including primary, acute and emergency care, mental health and addiction support. Transition of care continues once individuals are discharged and return to community.

Services include:

  • Medical and nursing care
  • Mental health and substance use treatment programs and services
  • Opioid Dependency Treatment
  • Emergency response
  • Public health and primary care such as vaccine clinics
  • Urgent dental care
  • Pharmacy
  • X-ray imaging and lab work
  • Telemedicine
  • Health-related discharge planning to help transition to community-based care

View patient guide

Healthcare providers

Correctional Health Services staff include:

  • physicians
  • nurse practitioners
  • dentists
  • nurses
  • pharmacists
  • mental health and substance use specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, addiction counsellors, and registered psychiatric nurses

People in custody can also see specialists via virtual health service.

If you are interested in working within Correctional Health Services, visit Careers.

Patient and family information

We provide health care to people admitted to Alberta’s correctional centres.

When an individual is brought into a provincial correctional facility Recovery Alberta health care team reviews their health care needs, including any prescriptions a patient may require.

Our patients are assessed by an authorized prescriber, such as a nurse practitioner or physician, and if required, medication is ordered based on their health care needs.

A variety of health professionals depending on an individual’s needs including registered nurses, psychiatric nurses, social workers, nurse practitioners, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and counsellors are available to assess patients medical and mental health needs.

The work we do contributes not only better individual health outcomes, but also contributes to public health such as decreased communicable disease, public safety such as addictions recovery and decreased recidivism.

Concerns

Patients concerned with their care can speak to a member of their health care team and have their concerns addressed.

Patients can reach out to Patient Relations at 1-855-550-2555 with feedback.

Patient Rights

A patient’s health care information is private and confidential. Correctional Health Services professionals do not share patient health information with anyone outside of the care team unless required by Alberta’s privacy laws.

Patients have rights that include:

Receiving care that meets their needs:

  • Be treated with respect and dignity by your healthcare team.
  • Participate in your healthcare.
  • Access the health services and care that you require.

Confidentiality

  • Health information will only be used by Recovery Alberta and shared with Alberta Health Services to the extent necessary to inform patient care. Health Information may be shared (i.e., disclosed) as allowed by the Health Information Act (HIA).

Consent

  • Receive information about their healthcare and treatment in a way that they understand.
  • Make informed decisions to accept or refuse health care and treatment.
  • Ask questions about their care.

Correctional Services

We partner with the Government of Alberta Correctional Service division on patient care.

For more information on adult offender and youth services, including community corrections, remand centres, and rules for visiting patients, visit Correctional Services.