Elk Point Healthcare Centre 24-hour Emergency Department Closure, May 13-14, 2021

There will be no physician on-site in the Emergency Department at the Elk Point Healthcare Centre for 24 hours from Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 8 a.m. to Friday, May 14, 2021 at 8 a.m. This is due to physician vacancies and an inability to secure locum coverage.

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.

Nursing staff will remain on-site in the Emergency Department providing triage and assessments and referrals for patients to alternate Emergency Departments in surrounding communities.

EMS calls will be re-routed to St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre in St. Paul (35 km), to ensure local residents continue to have access to the emergency services they need. Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency during this time.

Depending on their needs, patients seeking care at the Emergency Department in Elk Point may also be made aware of services available through local pharmacies. Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.

We are thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff and would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding during this time.

While there is steady growth in the number of physicians and nurse practitioners practicing in Alberta, we recognize that gaining access to a physician continues to be a challenge in many rural and remote areas.

AHS has several initiatives underway to help support recruitment efforts including northern incentive programs as well as working closely with practicing professionals and the community. The Alberta Rural Health Professions Action Plan is also in place, aiming to improve rural medical services for communities, support rural practitioners and recruit new talent.

We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.