Government of Alberta Commits to Fully Funding Bridge Healing Pilot Program: Our Stories

Our Hospital, Our StoriesGovernment of Alberta Commits to Fully Funding Bridge Healing Pilot Program

Posted on: Jan 17, 2023

The announcement made on January 12th, 2023, ensures our most vulnerable patients will receive the assistance they need to help break the cycle of homelessness.

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is thrilled to share the news that the Government of Alberta has committed to fully funding the Bridge Healing pilot program for two years, through Alberta Health Services.

As one of the first organizations committed to funding the Bridge Healing pilot program in partnership with Jasper Place Wellness Centre, the announcement made on January 12^th, 2023, ensures our most vulnerable patients will receive the assistance they need to help break the cycle of homelessness.

Home to one of the busiest emergency departments in Canada, the Royal Alexandra Hospital treats a high volume of vulnerable patients each year. Doctors, nurses, and social workers at the forefront of emergency care are often in the difficult position of releasing patients, once treated, back into homelessness, where treatment for acute illness or injury is difficult, if not impossible.

When these situations occur, they are demoralizing for medical staff and lead to extremely poor health outcomes for patients, who often end up as repeat visitors to the ER. Fueled by a desire to see real and transformative change for patients facing homelessness, medical and community leaders at the Royal Alex designed the Bridge Healing pilot program, led by Dr. Louis Francescutti.

Inspired by the passion and vision presented by Dr. Francescutti and the team behind Bridge Healing, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation immediately and enthusiastically took on the cause of fundraising for the program in early 2022 and acting as a key advocacy partner, helping bring it to fruition.

Seeing the program’s potential for true systemic change, immediate charitable support came from several physicians in the Royal Alex’s emergency department, followed by swift donor support from the public.

Donor dollars raised by the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation will continue to support the goals of the Bridge Healing Program and the patients it serves.

“Once again, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation has been able to play an integral part in shaping healthcare and investing in innovative projects that improve health outcomes for all Albertans, all thanks to the support of our incredible donors. Bridge Healing started as a dream and became a reality thanks to you.” - Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

News Coverage:

Global News:

First-of-its-kind housing coming to Edmonton for homeless patients after hospital visits

Edmonton Journal:

New Edmonton housing to provide ‘bridge healing’ for homeless patients discharged from ER

Q107 Toronto:

36 beds opening in Edmonton for homeless people recently discharged from ER

CTV Edmonton:

36 beds opening in Edmonton for homeless people recently discharged from ER

University of Alberta, Folio:

Program offers houseless emergency department patients a bridge to home | Folio (ualberta.ca)

Edmonton Sun: