Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Nine Hours

Temporary ED closure at Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre

Feb 21, 2022 | 7:40 PM

The Emergency Department (ED) at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre will be temporarily closed overnight from 11 p.m. February 21 until 8 a.m. February 22, due to a gap in physician coverage.

Officials with Alberta Health Services (AHS) say new patients will not be admitted after 11 p.m. and those remaining in the department at that time will be treated and discharged according to their needs. Nursing staff will remain in the ED overnight to assess and triage any walk-in patients who present during the closure.

Patients will be referred to emergency departments in surrounding communities as appropriate during this time. Those with less urgent needs may be referred to local medical clinics for walk-in appointments Tuesday morning.

Officials say this closure is a temporary measure taken as a last resort. Alberta Health Services says it is working hard to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time, and to keep all other services at the site operating as normal.

Inpatient units and other service at the site are not impacted by this gap in physician coverage.

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The ED will resume 24-hour operations as of 8 a.m. February 22.

According to AHS, patients requiring emergency medical care during this time are asked to call 911. EMS will be re-routed to surrounding facilities, including the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre and Stettler Hospital and Care Centre.

Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7, for non-emergency, health-related questions.

AHS thanks the community for its patience and understanding during this time. AHS is also said to be thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff as well to help ensure that those who need care continue to have access to it, even if that requires getting that care at a neighbouring community.