ATHABASCA - Due to a lack of physician coverage in the Athabasca Healthcare Centre's emergency department (ED), the ED will be without an on-site doctor from 5 p.m. Friday Dec. 8 to 6 a.m. Saturday Dec. 9, from 9 p.m. Saturday Dec. 9 to 6 a.m. Sunday Dec. 10, and from 6 p.m. Dec. 10 to 6:00 a.m. Dec. 11.
In a Dec. 8 release, a spokesperson for Alberta Health Services said signage will be posted at the door notifying the community of the interruption. Patients who present to the ED will be triaged and assessed by nurses and referred to alternate emergency departments in surrounding communities.
The release said this is a temporary measure due to physician vacancies and the inability to secure locum coverage.
EMS will remain available in the community and calls will be re-routed to surrounding healthcare centres to ensure local residents continue to have access to the emergency services they need.
