Functional responsibility:
The Alberta Hospital Services Commission was responsible for the planning and development of a system of hospitals and health care facilities, for reviewing the financial needs of hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, advising the government with regard to operating and capital grants to these facilities, and providing assistance to hospital boards in the planning, evaluation and implementation of programs. The Commission administered the Alberta Hospitalization Benefits Plan, which operated under the authority of the Alberta Hospitals Act, and the Alberta Nursing Home Plan, which operated under the authority of the Nursing Homes Act. In 1976, the Commission became responsible for the province's Emergency Health Services and Emergency Air Ambulance Programs.

The Commission was responsible for the administration of the following acts:

Alberta Hospitals Act
Cancer Treatment and Prevention Act
Homes for the Aged Act
Nursing Homes Act
Provincial General Hospitals Act
University of Alberta Hospitals Act
Lloydminster Hospital Act

Predecessor and successor bodies:
The predecessor of the Commission was the Hospitals Section of the Department of Health. The Commission was succeeded by the Hospitals Division of the Department of Hospitals and Medical Care.

Administrative relationships:
The Commission reported to the Minister of Health (1971), the Minister of Health and Social Development (1971-1975), the Minister of Social Services and Community Health (1971-1975), and the Minister of Hospitals and Medical Care (1975-1977).

Administrative structure:
The Commission was made up of the appointed Commission members and a supporting administration that provided the programs that were the Commission's responsibility. The Commission was made up of:

1. the Chairman, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
2. the Commissioner for Hospitals, appointed by the Minister
3. the Commissioner for Finance, appointed by the Minister
4. the Chairman of the Health Care Insurance Commission
5. the Director of the Mental Health Division, Department of Health and Social Development/Social Services and Community Health
6. a member of the Legislative Assembly
7. four or five other members, appointed by the Minister

At the time of the founding of the Commission, the supporting administration was divided into two groups. The first was made up of the divisions responsible for oversight of hospital operations: the Standards and Field Services, Planning and Construction, and Research and Development Divisions. These Divisions operated under the supervision of the Commissioner for Hospitals. The second group of divisions, the Budgets Division and Accounting Division, were responsible for budgeting and finance of hospitals and other health care facilities, as well as Commission financial matters. These divisions operated under the supervision of the Commissioner for Finance.

The units of the Commission responsible for the respective programs were as follows:

1. Monitoring standards of care at health care facilities and tracking utilization of various facilities: Standards and Field Service Division (1971-1977)
2. Overseeing construction, alteration, and equipment of all hospitals and related facilities: Planning and Construction Division (1971-1976), Design and Construction Division (1976-1977)
3. Collection and analysis of statistical data relating to the operation and utilization of hospital facilities and services: Statistics and Research Division (1971-1976), Systems and Research Division (1976-1977)
4. Processing grant and other payments by the Commission and processing cost sharing claims for submission to the federal government: Accounting Division (1971-1977)
5. Examination and analysis of budgets submitted by active treatment and auxiliary hospitals to determine levels of financial support by the Commission and monitoring the financial operations of hospitals: Budgets Division (1971-1977)
6. Administration of the Alberta Hospitalization Benefits Plan and the Alberta Nursing Home Plan: Budgets Division and Accounting Division (1971-1977)
7. Administration and operation of the emergency health services and emergency air ambulance programs: Emergency Health Services Division (1976-1977)
8. Development, operation and maintenance of information systems: Data Processing Division (1971-1977)
9. Administrative and personnel management services to the Commission: Secretariat (1971-1973), Administrative Services and Personnel Division (1973-1977)
10. Legislative, legal and labour relations services: Secretariat (1971-1977)

1. Commission administrative records from 1957 to 1970
2. Treasury Branches Loan Committee minutes from 1948 to 1952
3. Glenrose Hospital Board minutes from 1963 to 1966
4. K.H. Prittie Hospital records from 1944 to 1962
5. Personnel records from 1956 to 1970