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Barrhead Healthcare Centre hit by physician shortage again

No on-site physician coverage in emergency department from 7 p.m. on Jan. 25 to 7 a.m. on Jan. 26
Barrhead HC Centre (VM)
The Barrhead Healthcare Centre's emergency department will have no on-site physician coverage overnight, though nursing staff will be on hand to perform triage, assessments and referrals to other health care centres.

There will be no on-site physician coverage in the Barrhead Healthcare Centre’s emergency department (ED) starting at 7 p.m. tonight, Jan. 25, and ending at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26. 

A release from Alberta Health Services (AHS) states that during this 12-hour period, nursing staff will remain on site in the ED to perform triage and assessments, as well as refer patients to emergency departments in neighbouring communities. 

Otherwise, patients are asked to call 9-1-1 if they have a medical emergency. EMS will be re-routed to either the Westlock Healthcare Centre or the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre. 

Depending on their needs, patients seeking care at the ED in Barrhead may also be made aware of services available through local pharmacies. 

Residents with non-emergency health care-related questions can also call Health Link at 8-1-1, which is available 24/7. 

“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 at this time,” the release states. 

Interruptions in emergency care at the Barrhead Healthcare Centre (and other rural hospitals) have been a semi-regular occurrence in recent months as AHS grapples with staffing issues amid the pandemic. 

The first such period was on Nov. 30, when there were no on-site physicians in the ED for a 12-hour period. 

Similar disruptions of varying lengths occurred at various points in the second half of December, with the last such disruption occurring on Jan. 2-3 for 12 hours. 

In total, these periods without on-site coverage add up to a little over four and a half days. 

During a Barrhead Chamber luncheon in November, local physician and community medical director Dr. Kent Bernes warned that there might be service disruptions at the Barrhead Healthcare Centre due to the low number of physicians in the community. 

Bernes had told Chamber members that Barrhead would only have about half of the physicians it is targeted to have by the end of January. 

AHS spokesperson Logan Clow also stated that these disruptions in emergency care were due to physician vacancies and the inability to secure a locum — a physician from out of the area who could temporarily cover a shift at the hospital.

Kevin Berger, TownandCountryToday.com


Kevin Berger

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