For the second time this week, Sylvan Lake’s urgent care centre is closing for part of the day.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced on Thursday afternoon that the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service will be closed on Friday morning due to an unexpected gap in physician coverage because of illness.
No physician will be available from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at which time it will reopen until 10 p.m. Normal operating hours of 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. will resume on May 7.
“This temporary reduction in hours is necessary as the service cannot operate without a physician on site,” says AHS.
“Options to secure alternative coverage have been exhausted, and the gap in coverage reduced as much as possible with support from other local physicians. Reducing hours is a last resort.”
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Hours reduced on Wednesday at Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service
Patients arriving at the care centre outside the hours of operation will be offered other options, including returning later in the day, booking an appointment with their family doctor, or calling Health Link at 811 for medical information and advice.
Patients can also get medical care from facilities in nearby communities, including Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer.
Related:
Updated: Doctor illness closes Sylvan Lake care centre temporarily
Scheduled appointments with other health services — including Public Health, laboratory and Addiction and Mental Health – at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre are not impacted by the temporary change in hours for the ambulatory care centre.
Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service offers diagnosis and treatment of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, seven days a week. These include sudden illness or injury that could be cared for in a doctor’s office but requires immediate attention.