Questions to ask before private surgery

In Alberta's public system, hospital accreditation, surgeon privileges and follow-up pathways are largely standardized. In a privately funded surgical facility, some of that structure still applies — private surgical facilities are inspected and licensed by Alberta Health — but the details of staffing, aftercare, and what's actually included in the price can vary between clinics. That makes it worth asking directly rather than assuming.

• Is the surgeon the same one who'd operate on me in the public system? Many surgeons who do privately funded cases in Alberta also work within the public system — knowing their public-system track record and privileges is reasonable due diligence.
• Is the facility licensed by Alberta Health as a surgical facility? This is a real, checkable credential, not a marketing term.
• What happens if there's a complication? Ask specifically which hospital would manage an urgent complication, and how the private clinic and that hospital coordinate.

• Does the quoted price include the implant itself, anesthesia, and the facility fee, or are these billed separately?
• Are pre-operative imaging and bloodwork included?
• How many follow-up visits are included, and for how long after surgery?
• What happens, financially and logistically, if a revision or additional procedure is needed later?
• Is physiotherapy included, or will it be billed separately (and is it covered by any insurance you have)?

For the broader landscape of what's publicly funded versus privately available in Alberta, our articles on private hip & knee surgery in Alberta and public vs private joint replacement in Alberta go into more detail.

• What is the actual expected wait from booking to surgery date?
• Where will the surgery take place, and is that location convenient for your recovery and follow-up needs?
• What is the expected timeline for returning to driving, work, and normal activity — see our guides on driving after surgery and a realistic recovery timeline.
• Does choosing private surgery affect your place on any public waitlist you may already be on? (Generally, once you proceed privately for a given joint, you would not also remain queued publicly for that same procedure — confirm this directly.)

Perhaps the most practical question of all: who do you call at two weeks, or at three months, if something doesn't feel right? A private surgical pathway should have as clear an answer to that question as the public system does. If it doesn't, that's worth pausing on before you proceed.

None of these questions are meant to create suspicion of private care — Alberta's model has opened a genuinely useful option for many patients tired of waiting. The point is simply that a good clinic will answer all of them plainly and without hesitation. If you'd like a broader sense of what a first consultation should cover generally, see what to expect at your first consultation.