Alberta Perinatal Health Program (APHP)

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APHP Information: Introduction

The APHP was established as of July 1, 2004 and as of April 1, 2009 was integrated into Alberta Health Services. A multidisciplinary Perinatal Health Council provides advisory support to the program and ensures continued input from stakeholders across the province on perinatal issues. A goal of the APHP is to ensure that our key stakeholders in the province participate in the program.

Program Principles

The APHP operating principles are:

Comprehensive Scope	The APHP focuses on the perinatal health of infants and their mothers, healthy or at risk, in the context of their families and communities. The program scope is from preconception through the first year of life. The APHP is concerned with the range of services delivered in Alberta across the continuum of care, including prevention, early identification, intervention and harm reduction.
Proactive, multi-faceted strategy	The program uses a multi-faceted approach that addresses individual and population perinatal health issues. The program strives proactively to identify, prioritize and address these issues, with an emphasis on quality improvement, advocacy, evidence-based optimal practice, education and information. The program is guided by a population health approach, and is planned and evaluated at the individual, aggregated and population levels.
Collaborative	The program undertakes its mandate in partnership with stakeholders. Recognizing that the APHP does not provide direct patient services, program staff value and strive for positive relationships with their key partners --- regional health authorities, health professionals and others.
Ethical conduct	The program is guided by ethical principles, which form the basis for decisions. Issues with an ethical implication are referred for ethical direction.
Evidence-based	The program is guided by the best available evidence and promising practices, informed by evaluation. Program staff will look for evidence and will incorporate it in program planning and decision-making.
Outcomes-oriented	The program uses an outcomes-oriented approach to measure success.
Quality	The program fosters the highest possible quality of care in the delivery of perinatal services for women and infants, provided at a level of care required for optimal practice and patient safety, and as close to home as possible. The program incorporates the following quality dimensions: accessibility, acceptability, appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and safety. [As defined by Alberta Health and Wellness and adopted by the Health Quality Council of Alberta].