Sylvan Lake’s urgent care centre has had to temporarily closed three times this week because of doctor shortages.
Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service shortened its hours on Monday and Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced early Wednesday afternoon that the facility would be closed from 2 to 10 p.m on Wednesday and from 2 to 10 p.m. on Thursday
Normal operations from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. were expected to resume on Friday.
“These temporary afternoon closures are necessary as the service cannot operate without a physician onsite,” said AHS in a statement that has been used numerous times in the last few months. “Options to secure alternative coverage have been exhausted. Temporary closure is a last resort.”
Patients arriving at the Community Health Centre for care from the Advanced Ambulatory Care Service during the temporary closures will be redirected to other care options as appropriate to their needs, says AHS. 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 concerns from facilities in nearby communities, including Innisfail, Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer.
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 closures of the Advanced Ambulatory Care Service.
Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service offers diagnosis and treatment of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. These include sudden illness or injury that could be cared for in a doctor’s office but requires immediate attention. Examples of urgent needs include minor cuts or burns, muscle and joint strains, bone fractures, and fever in young children.
AHS reminds that it is not for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attack, signs or symptoms of stroke, amputation, head trauma, seizures, and other similar severe illnesses.
Patients requiring emergency medical care are to call 911.