Athabasca County has received the following notice from Alberta Health Services:
Due to a lack of clinical personnel, Athabasca Healthcare Centre’s emergency department will not have a physician on-site for the following times:
• 6 p.m., Saturday, April 4 to 6 a.m., Sunday, April 5
• 6 p.m., Sunday, April 5 to 6 a.m., Monday, April 6
• 6 p.m., Monday, April 6 to 6 a.m., Tuesday, April 7
• 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 8
• 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, April 10
This is a temporary measure due to a lack of available clinical personnel and an inability to secure locum coverage.
Nursing staff will remain on-site in the emergency department providing triage and assessments and referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments in surrounding communities. EMS will also remain available in the community to ensure access to emergency services.
Virtual Emergency Physician coverage may be available for all or part of this service advisory. The Virtual Emergency Physician program uses an experienced ED physician to remotely temporarily support facilities for non-life-threatening issues.
Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. Residents are also reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.
Further details about the service advisory are available here.
