Athabasca County has received the following notice from Alberta Health Services:
There will be no physician on-site in the emergency department (ED) at the Athabasca Healthcare Centre from:
• 6 p.m., Saturday, August 16 – 6 a.m., Sunday, August 17
• 6 a.m., Sunday, August 17 – 6 p.m., Sunday, August 17
• 6 p.m., Sunday, August 17 – 6 a.m., Monday, August 18
• 6 p.m., Saturday, August 23 – 6 a.m., Sunday, August 24
This is due to physician vacancies and an inability to secure coverage. The disruption may be cancelled should coverage be found.
Patients who present to the ED during this time will be triaged and assessed by registered nurses and referred to alternate emergency departments.
EMS will remain available in the community as per standard procedures and will work with the local healthcare centre to ensure residents continue to have access to the emergency services they need.
Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.
Information on temporary closures as well as updates (should coverage be found) will be posted to AHS Facilities Temporary Bed / Space Reductions: (www.ahs.ca/br/page17594.aspx).
