ELK POINT – Elk Point and area residents will find themselves without on-site physician coverage in the Elk Point Healthcare Centre emergency department during several days in August.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has announced that due to the inability to secure physician coverage, the ER will be without an on-site doctor on from 8 a.m. Aug. 7 until 8 a.m. on Aug. 9 this week. It will again be without an on-site ER doctor from 8 a.m. Aug. 12 until 8 a.m. Aug. 13, and then again from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 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.
“Nursing staff will remain on site in the emergency department during these times, providing triage, assessments and referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments in surrounding communities, as needed.
“Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. EMS will remain available to the community 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.
“If coverage is found, disruptions may be cancelled. This is a temporary measure, and AHS is working hard to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need 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.”
