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Locum on the way for Boyle Healthcare Centre

AHS clarifies progress in securing temporary doctor and status of coming new doctor 
Boyle Healthcare Centre ext 2021 web
Alberta Health Services has secured a locum who will start very soon at the Boyle Healthcare Centre to help cover hospital shifts and keep the emergency department open. For the last month, ambulances have been redirected to Athabasca and Lac La Biche as a lack of physician coverage in the village has come to the forefront.

BOYLE – Alberta Health Services has secured a locum for the Boyle Healthcare Centre that should put an end to the frequent closures of the emergency department over the last month. 

The temporary doctor is scheduled to begin practicing in Boyle in early July, according to the provincial health authority. 

In an e-mail in response to questions from the Advocate, an AHS communications spokesperson wrote: “We are pleased to share that we have secured a locum, who will begin providing coverage at the facility in early July … AHS has also recruited a full-time physician to the community. Pending successful completion of their Practice Readiness Assessment through the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta, we anticipate this physician will start practicing in Boyle at the end of October.” 

The situation is not necessarily new either, as physician shortages are known to cause staffing issues, especially in rural locations when the summer comes around every year. The addition of the COVID-19 pandemic has also played a large role in the shortage. 

“Often times, locum availability determines if a healthcare centre is able to secure one … When AHS contacts locums, they are provided a list of communities seeking coverage. The Alberta Medical Association also posts communities seeking locum coverage. In either instance, the locum selects the community most convenient for them to work in.” 

At the Boyle hospital in particular, there is currently one doctor who covers his clinic and the healthcare centre during the day, but the emergency department has been shuttered for 291 hours since Monday, June 7 through Friday, July 2, mostly during nights. 

From June 15 to July 2, 10 ambulances were re-routed to the Athabasca and Lac La Biche healthcare centres, said the e-mail from AHS, adding that on any given day the healthcare centre sees about a dozen emergency department admissions in 24 hours, a number that has remained consistent for the last year. 

AHS says it is also proactive in notifying as many as possible to keep the community apprised of the current situation. 

“AHS always provides notifications to communities that are affected in this way, and take appropriate measures to ensure patients continue to receive the care they need, when they need it.” 

Since the first closure June 7, there have been “a relatively low number of patients present to the ED who were not aware that emergency services were temporarily unavailable. In the event this occurs, on-site nursing staff in the ED triage and assess the patient. In non-urgent care cases, some patients may be referred to an alternate care facility, such as Athabasca or Lac La Biche, or asked to return when the ED re-opens. If a patient requires emergency care, they are transported via EMS to Athabasca or Lac La Biche. 

“AHS continues to work diligently to ensure there is adequate physician coverage at the Boyle Healthcare Centre … We would like to thank all patients and the community for their support and understanding during this time. We are also thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff.” 

 

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