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Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care closed this afternoon

Apr 25, 2023 | 2:40 PM

Alberta Health Services says an unexpected gap in physician coverage will cause the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service (SLAACS) to be closed early Tuesday afternoon.

The service closed at 2 p.m. today, moments after AHS notified media of the closure, and will reopen tomorrow morning, April 26, for its regular hours of operation, 7:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.

This closure is a temporary measure taken as a last resort after options for securing alternative physician coverage have been exhausted. The service cannot operate without a physician onsite, AHS notes.

AHS goes on to say:

Patients arriving at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre to receive care at the Advanced Ambulatory Care Service during the closure will be redirected to other available care options as appropriate to their needs.

These options include returning when the Service resumes tomorrow, 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, Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House.

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.