Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.
(rdnewsNOW file photo)
February 19, 2023

Temporary closure of Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service Sunday morning

Feb 17, 2023 | 3:21 PM

Due to an unexpected gap in physician coverage, the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service (SLAACS) will be temporarily closed the morning of February 19, 2023.

Officials with Alberta Health Services say the service will be closed from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at which time it will reopen and operate until 10 p.m.. Usual hours of 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. are expected to resume on Monday, February 20.

While efforts to secure locum coverage continue to minimize disruptions for the community as much as possible, AHS says this temporary closure will be necessary if the gap persists as the Service cannot operate without a physician onsite.

Patients arriving at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre to receive care at the Advanced Ambulatory Care Service during the temporary closure will be redirected to other available care options as appropriate to their needs. These options include returning when the service resumes, booking an appointment with a family doctor, or calling Health Link at 811 for medical information and advice.

Patients can also access medical care for urgent health concerns from facilities in nearby communities, including Innisfail, Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer.

SLAACS offers diagnosis and treatment of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. Examples of urgent needs include minor cuts or burns, muscle and joint strains, bone fractures, and fever in young children. SLAACS is not for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attack, signs/symptoms of stroke, head trauma, seizures etc.

Patients requiring emergency medical care should call 911.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the rdnewsNOW newsletter here. You can also download the rdnewsNOW mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.