(Dreamstime)

By David Opinko

DynaLIFE to offer community lab services in Lethbridge

Jan 28, 2022 | 9:52 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Some of the specifics still need to be worked out, but there will be a change in community lab services providers in Lethbridge.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Alberta Precision Labs (APL) have reached an agreement on a contract for DynaLIFE Medical Labs to deliver community lab services in several communities beginning July 1, 2022.

Health Minister Jason Copping states that this change will save money, allowing for investments into other healthcare priorities and services.

“Contracting routine community lab work to DynaLIFE will enhance service for Albertans and generate cost savings that can be used to support other priorities and services across the healthcare system. Partnering with DynaLIFE is an innovative solution that will build upon the success of Alberta’s provincially integrated lab system, which has proven to be one of the best of its kind in North America and is critical to providing high-quality patient diagnosis and treatment across the healthcare spectrum.”

The contract will see DynaLIFE operate patient service centres and mobile collection facilities in areas including Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Brooks, Lloydminster, Camrose, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Strathmore, Leduc, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, and Stoney Plain.

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It will also see the company invest in “significant upgrades and expansion and patient service centres” in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie. As well, they will invest in much-needed improvements to leased hub lab facilities in Calgary and Edmonton.

LNN reached out to APL to learn what exactly this will mean for Lethbridge.

There are currently three places in the city that do lab testing – Chinook Regional Hospital, Bigelow Fowler Clinic West, and the Family Medical Centre.

APL told us that it is not yet clear if DynaLIFE will take over lab services at all three existing providers or just at the two non-hospital clinics.

They were also not able to tell us what the “significant upgrades and expansion” would entail as those details will be finalized by July 1.

“We are proud and very excited to build on our experience serving Albertans and bring our patient-centred focus to new communities across the province,” says DynaLIFE President and CEO Jason Pincock. “We look forward to working with AHS and APL on our plans that include much-needed upgrades and expansion of patient service centres and laboratory testing facilities in many of Alberta’s largest and fastest-growing communities.”

An AHS media release states DynaLIFE was selected as the “preferred private-sector partner” through a competitive request for proposals process that took place throughout 2021.

The province assures Albertans that no job losses are anticipated as a result of the transition process, “as DynaLIFE has agreed to assume all unionized, non-unionized and medical-scientific staff under existing collective agreements (where applicable) and provide the same, or similar, terms and conditions of employment as existing prior to the transfer.”