We advocate for a wide array of patient issues including emergency room care, senior care, women’s health, mental health, acute care, and medical fatalities. We work with all ages, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations. We help patients get a second opinion, find a physician, place a complaint or access medical documents. Open Arms also helps families of patients with guidance, support and resources to get the answers they require.

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society has the right to release a client at any time, particularly if the client becomes abusive or if the client is displaying an unwillingness to help themselves.

There is no cost. Our services are free.

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society has the right to release a client at any time, particularly if the client becomes abusive or if the client is displaying an unwillingness to help themselves.

No, Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society is an independent non-profit organization that works for the patient and we are not affiliated with Alberta Health Services (AHS). We will work with AHS to resolve patient concerns. AHS maintains their own body for receiving feedback and acknowledging complaints, called the AHS Patient Relations Department.

Please browse our Services page for more information on how we can help.

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society has the right to release a client at any time, particularly if the client becomes abusive or if the client is displaying an unwillingness to help themselves.

These are the steps you will take:

1) Contact us through our online Intake Form, e-mail or telephone.

2) Discuss your case with our Client and Advocate Consultant in order to determine if we are able to assist.

3) If your case is within our mandate, the Consultant will collect your contact information and you will need to complete our Client Intake Forms.

4) Your information is passed to the Advocacy Director and will be assigned to one of our volunteer Patient Advocates.

5) The Patient Advocate will review your information and documentation and will contact you.

6) You will discuss your situation with the Patient Advocate and they will help you create goals.

7) The Patient Advocate will guide you in achieving your goals.

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society has the right to release a client at any time, particularly if the client becomes abusive or if the client is displaying an unwillingness to help themselves.

Once a case has been accepted by our Client and Advocate Consultant, the client will need to submit the following forms:

Release of Information Form – sets out the extent of information that the client wishes to share with the Advocate. According to the Alberta Health Act, permission must be given to allow access to medical records, attend visits with doctors, and be a part of conversations with AHS. Otherwise the Advocate has no authority in the case and doctors/organizations are not obligated to include them.

Client Confidentiality Form – sets out the terms by which information will be handled between the client and the Advocate. We will respect the information disclosed by the client and keep it protected and private. We will not share your information.

Waiver, Release, Indemnity Form – sets out the protection of the Advocate and Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society from any legal proceeding the client may bring as a result of the relationship they establish and information they learn about one another.

You may access the forms using the links below:

• Complete online Intake form.
• Sign a Release of Information Form.
• Sign a Client Confidentiality Form.
• Sign a Waiver, Release, Indemnity Form.

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society has the right to release a client at any time, particularly if the client becomes abusive or if the client is displaying an unwillingness to help themselves.

Clients that have contacted us to get assistance will discuss their situation with our Client and Advocate Consultant. The Consultant will make a determination of the case and decide if the case is within the scope of Open Arms. In some situations, the case can be resolved by the Consultant. If the case requires long term advocacy the Consultant will collect the required information and forms and pass them to the Advocacy Director. In order to decide if your case is within our mandate, one of these situations must apply:

• You require support and assistance in navigating the healthcare system.
• You have a complaint concerning the health care system.
• You need assistance with a diagnosis or you are undiagnosed.
• You need assistance with accessing the proper health care professionals.
• You would like help in collecting medical documentation.
• You are in conflict with health care professionals and require support and guidance.
• There has been a breach of privacy concerning health documents and you require assistance with complaint or documentation.
• You require assistance in determining their medical rights.

All cases are highly individualized and the best way to determine if your case is within our scope is to contact Open Arms and discuss your circumstances.

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society has the right to release a client at any time, particularly if the client becomes abusive or if the client is displaying an unwillingness to help themselves.

Our volunteer Patient Advocates are persons who guide clients to achieve their desired medical goals. Advocates can only guide.

The following is a list of duties our advocates can perform to support the client:

1) Guide client in how to obtain any necessary medical records, information, and documentation.

2) Attend important meetings with medical staff and Alberta Health Services (if scheduling allows), not every appointment.

3) Assist client in taking important notes that apply to the goals of the case.

4) Guide the client in how to place complaints to the proper authorities and review the documentation.

5) Assist client in writing correspondence as they relate to the case.

6) Facilitate communications with health care professionals and guide client in those communications.

7) Direct client to available resources, programs, and agencies that may aid in improving their health.

8) Assist client in acquiring transportation, if required.

9) Guide client through the media process, if warranted.

The more effort a client puts into their case, the more they will receive out of this process!

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society has the right to release a client at any time, particularly if the client becomes abusive or if the client is displaying an unwillingness to help themselves.

The following is a list of the duties our volunteer Patient Advocates can NOT perform for their client:

1) We do not help clients with financial issues including AISH. Open Arms does not pay for medical records, transportation or any financial requirements.

2) We are not lawyers and are not qualified to provide legal advice.

3) We are not doctors and will not diagnose the client.

4) We are not counsellors and should not be used as an outlet for client frustrations. However, we can aid a patient in acquiring a counselor.

5) Media cases are rare and it should not be assumed a case can go to the media. The Advocate can help in the decision of bringing a case to the media.

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society has the right to release a client at any time, particularly if the client becomes abusive or if the client is displaying an unwillingness to help themselves.