Bridging Gaps: The Royal Alexandra Hospital's Commitment to Community Health
At the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH), the journey toward advancements in community health has been marked by significant milestones. Over the past decade, the hospital has championed programs that address the critical needs of resilient populations, allowing for the success of the Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH) initiative to pave the way for new support avenues like the Bridge Healing program.
The Royal Alex has been instrumental in serving individuals living with substance use disorders, supporting programs and initiatives that have sought to improve care for the population for years. One of these groups, the Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH) program, has played a pivotal role in improving health outcomes for patients for over a decade now. Through its specialized services, ARCH has provided patient-centred, evidence-based, and trauma-informed care, assisting individuals at every stage of their recovery journey.
Click the video to learn more about the program and Ashley’s story.
The commitment ARCH has shown to enhancing community health has set a foundation for continued support, with the Royal Alex introducing new initiatives like the Bridge Healing program, largely related to the success ARCH has shown in its ten years of work. Built on the foundations established by ARCH, the Bridge Healing program was launched in early 2023 in partnership with the Jasper Place Wellness Centre and evolves the services of care the Royal Alex helps provide.
The Bridge Healing program addresses the pressing needs of patients discharged from the emergency department who are experiencing houselessness, providing a safer space for recovery. This allows the patient staying in the program to not only receive support in their healing process, but also provides connection to critical community-based services for permanent housing and health care.
Dr. Louis Francescutti, a key leader and advocate for these initiatives, emphasizes the profound impact of providing stable housing for patients experiencing houselessness.
“This system is broken, but with Bridge Healing, we’re taking significant steps to change that. It’s about giving our most vulnerable patients a chance to rebuild their lives.”
The success and continued establishment of these programs is a testament to the support the Royal Alexandra Hospital receives from generous donors of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. Through community support, the Foundation has stood behind the Royal Alexandra Hospital in transforming visions of care into reality, ensuring that patients receive the assistance they need.
The efforts do not end here, however. ARCH and the Bridge Healing program are just two parts of a larger movement toward improving community health.
Thank you for helping us improve the health of all Albertans.
Bridge Healing Program
Learn more about the Bridge Healing program and how our donors and community partners are collectively working to break the cycle of houselessness and creating pathways to healing and recovery for the people of Alberta.
