Due to an unexpected gap in physician coverage, the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service will be temporarily closed on Friday afternoon and evening.
Alberta Health Services said the urgent care centre will be closed from 2 p.m. on Friday and will reopen at the normal time at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Normal hours are 730 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
While efforts to secure locum coverage continue to minimize disruptions for the community as much as possible, AHS says the temporary closure was necessary because the service cannot operate without a physician on site.
Patients arriving at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre to receive care at the Advanced Ambulatory Care Service during the temporary closure will be redirected to other available care options as appropriate to their needs. These options include returning when the service resumes, booking an appointment with a family doctor, or calling Health Link at 811 for medical information and advice.
Patients can also access medical care for urgent health concerns from facilities in nearby communities, including Innisfail, Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer.
Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service offers diagnosis and treatment of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.