Help us sharpen our focus on IMAGINE’s core goals

By Judy Birdsell We are often asked: What makes IMAGINE unique? To provide a clear answer to the question, we have crafted a simple statement that we call a value proposition. We want the statement to be concise – a sort of 30-second elevator speech for people who are just learning about us. What do […]
The input of everyday Albertans made a difference
By Nancy Walter A year ago, IMAGINE Citizens Collaborating for Health completed a project in which we had an in-depth conversation with 28 Albertans over the course of several months on two topics that were top of mind to Alberta Health (government ministry responsible for health). The purpose of the project was to inform future […]
MyHealth Record
By Nancy Walter The Government of Alberta has recently launched a new portal that makes it possible for Albertans to access some of our health information online. This is a first important step toward making our complete health record a tool for us to use to ensure our care is seamless and effective. MyHealth Records […]
Building networks and hearing from Albertans – IMAGINE Citizens 2018 year in review

By Judy Birdsell and Charlie Fischer Four years ago, the grassroots movement that became IMAGINE Citizens was born with Friday morning meetings at the O’Brien Institute for Health at the University of Calgary involving a small group of people passionate about health and health care. This past year has been one of our busiest. Here is […]
Connect Care welcomes input from IMAGINE Citizens

by Leslie Ayre-Jaschke Connect Care is a new clinical information system being designed to link Alberta Health Services facilities, programs and services. Learn more about this collaborative effort being launched in the fall of 2019.
Quality and safety summit opens conversations for IMAGINE Citizens

Attending and presenting at Alberta Health Service’s fourth annual Quality and Safety Summit in October, our guest columnist shares her experience as an IMAGINE Citizen promoting Healthcare 101.
Spotlight On: Leslie Ayre-Jaschke, IMAGINE Citizens member who is passionate about the rural voice

In this series, Spotlight On, we introduce you to the people actively involved with IMAGINE Citizens. This month features Leslie Ayre-Jaschke, Governance Group member, Operations Committee Co-chair and Lead for the Theory of Change Project.
Networking in Medicine Hat – health and health-care matters

IMAGINE Citizens kicked off our Fall 2018 engagement activities on October 27 with a networking event at the Medicine Hat College, attended by a small and very passionate group of local citizens.
Spotlight On: Charlie Fischer, IMAGINE Citizens Co-chair

Our feature series, Spotlight On, introduces you to the people actively involved with IMAGINE Citizens. In this issue, we feature Charlie Fischer, Co-chair, founding member and health care advocate.
How personalizing health systems adds value for citizens

EDITOR’S NOTE: SCAN Health is a partner of IMAGINE Citizens. It is dedicated to advancing health systems to achieve the best possible experiences and outcomes for patients through supply chain transformation. Health systems can become more patient-centred by personalizing their structures, services and care delivery models. These changes enable citizens to be more engaged in […]
Passionate about health care in Medicine Hat?

Join us on Saturday, October 27th for the Medicine Hat debut of the powerful short film Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story. The day starts at 11:00 AM with a community conversation about health care (and lunch) hosted by IMAGINE Citizens, followed by the movie and then a panel discussion facilitated by Greg’s Wings Projects.
Edmonton citizens connect with IMAGINE Citizens

By Stephanie Montesanti and Alexandra Harrison On June 14, IMAGINE Citizens hosted an energetic networking event at the Edmonton Intercultural Centre. It was an opportunity to connect with colleagues and make new friends. About 20 participants from diverse backgrounds joined half a dozen IMAGINE Citizens volunteers for an evening of conversation and making connections.
Initiative will ease patients’ return home

The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) is launching a 17-month collaborative to improve patient and caregiver experiences during transitions from hospital to home.
Fit for Purpose? Do these Canada-wide health organizations do what they were intended to do?

by Judy Birdsell The federal minister of Health asked two prominent Canadian health leaders in late 2017 to review seven federally funded agencies designed to improve health and health care in the country. Are they doing the job they were created to do?
Making Connections and Building Momentum for Improving Health Care in Alberta

by Alexandra (Alex) Harrison Improving health care is more effective when citizens act together. IMAGINE’s April networking event in Calgary aimed at increasing collaboration. Over 40 people learned of our activities as well as participated in discussions about IMAGINE and how they could contribute to the organization.
Making Connections and Building Momentum: A Calgary Networking Event

Register at Eventbrite Are you interested in what’s happening with healthcare in Alberta? At IMAGINE, we’re not only interested, but actively working to improve it. Would you like to be part of the conversation? Your voice matters to us. IMAGINE is always looking for ways to involve more Albertans in the discussion. We invite you […]
Message from Co-Chairs – Judy Birdsell and Charlie Fischer

Hello! In addition to our two very important initiatives – Healthcare 101 and the Primary Health Care Engagement Project – here is an update about what we’ve been doing at IMAGINE:
Albertans influence the direction of primary healthcare in our province

In 2017, IMAGINE recruited 28 Albertans from across the province to be part of a unique and important Citizen Dialogue about the future of primary healthcare.