The Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Project is a Government of Alberta, Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services (ALSS) initiative, with implementation led by Health Cities. Launched in May 2025, the initiative addresses one of Alberta’s most pressing health system challenges: individuals who no longer need hospital-level care but remain in hospital beds due to a lack of suitable alternatives.
Working with Alberta’s provincial health agencies, service providers, innovators, and communities, the initiative supports the co-development of transitional and longer-term care models for these patients. It serves as a live demonstration of how collaboration and innovation can drive meaningful change in the ALC system.
This project supports a future where no Albertan waits in the wrong place for the care they need—by building pathways that are:
Every day in Alberta, people are waiting in hospital because their next step isn’t available, funded, or coordinated. These patients include:
These patients do not fit neatly into existing categories and that is exactly why new models are needed.
This initiative is a transformation in how Alberta supports individuals transitioning out of acute care and is built on four key pillars: where no Albertan waits in the wrong place for the care they need.
Transitional Bed Models
We are evaluating and co-designing transitional care models that shorten hospital stays while improving safety, comfort, and dignity for ALC patients.
Standardized Patient Pathways
Clear, consistent guidelines are being developed for how patients are supported as they move through the system, creating a smoother, more coordinated journey.
Surge Capacity Management
To respond to system pressures, we are creating dynamic protocols that allow transitional care resources to flex up or down based on patient demand.
Data-Driven Insights
Real-time evaluation will track patient outcomes, readmission rates, and system-level impacts— generating evidence to inform long-term planning and broader provincial adoption.
The project is structured across four strategic phases, ensuring real-world input, measurable results, and scalable insights. The timeline reflects our commitment to responsive design, collaborative delivery, and system-wide impact.
Engage with service providers across Alberta to understand existing barriers and explore potential care environments.
Goal: Build relationships, gather insights, and map out system gaps.
Source and assess innovative care models that address the core needs of ALC populations across both urban and rural settings.
Goal: Identify creative, feasible, and patient-aligned solutions ready for validating.
Develop and validate innovative models across Alberta in live environments with care providers.
Goal: Operationalize the most promising models with real-world partnerships and oversight.
Third-party evaluators assess each pilot, using shared metrics and direct participant feedback to measure effectiveness, equity, and value.
Goal: Generate evidence for decision-makers and transition to Assisted Living and Social Services (ALSS) oversight.
Our project team reviews all submissions and inquiries related to the ALC Project. We will follow up with proponents whose proposals show alignment and potential, or where further information is needed.
To contact our team directly, please email alc@healthcities.ca.
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