Health indicator development in Alberta health authorities: Searching for common ground

The ability to measure population health trends and improvements can be enh anced through collaborative efforts to describe existing knowledge and via shared development opportunities. This paper highlights a project undertake n in Alberta which has created an inventory of health status indicators in use in the province, and provides a framework for strategic progress in the development and use of a common set of indicators across the province. The work may provide a model for other regional health authorities interested in comparing the health of their populations across time and across health regions.