Residents of Elk Point and the surrounding area will face temporary disruptions in on-site physician coverage at the Elk Point Healthcare Centre emergency department throughout several days in August, according to an announcement from Alberta Health Services.
Due to challenges in securing physician coverage, the emergency department will be without an on-site doctor from 8 a.m. on August 7 until 8 a.m. on August 9. Additional coverage gaps are scheduled from 8 a.m. on August 12 until 8 a.m. August 13, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 16.
“The emergency department will also continue to be without physician coverage from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday due to a lack of physician availability on the following dates: Aug. 14-15, Aug. 21-22 and Aug. 28-29,” an AHS media release states.
During these periods, nursing staff will remain on-site to provide triage, assessments, and referrals to alternate emergency departments in surrounding communities as needed. AHS advises patients to call 911 in the event of a medical emergency. EMS services will continue to be available and will coordinate with the local healthcare centre to ensure that residents have access to necessary emergency services.
For non-emergency health-related questions, residents are encouraged to contact Health Link at 811.
AHS notes that if physician coverage is secured, the schedule disruptions may be cancelled. They emphasize that this is a temporary measure, and efforts are ongoing to ensure that local residents continue to have access to essential care during this time.
“We are grateful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff and would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding during this time,” stated AHS.
