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The Barrhead Healthcare Centre emergency department will be without on-site physician coverage for two 12-hour periods this week.
A release from Alberta Health Services (AHS) sent out this afternoon states that there will be no physicians working in the emergency department from 7 p.m. tonight, March 1, until 7 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2.
There will also be no on-site physician coverage from 7 p.m. on Friday, March 4, until 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 5.
“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,” the release states.
During these two periods, nursing staff will remain in the emergency department to perform triage and referrals for patients to other hospitals in neighbouring communities.
Otherwise, patients are asked to call 9-1-1 if they have a medical emergency. EMS (Emergency Medical Services) will still be available, but they will be re-routed to either the Westlock Healthcare Centre or the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre.
Depending on their needs, patients seeking care at the Barrhead emergency department will also be made aware of services available through local pharmacies.
Also, non-emergency calls about medical calls can always be made to 8-1-1, which is available 24/7.
A shortage of local physicians has led to a number of such emergency care disruptions at the Barrhead Healthcare Centre in recent months.
The last such period occurred in mid-February, when there was no on-site coverage in the emergency department from 7 p.m. on Feb. 14 to 7 a.m. on Feb. 15.
