Milk River hospital emergency dept. closes for 12 hours over physician shortage

MILK RIVER, AB – A rural emergency department is closing temporarily due to a physician shortage, forcing any potential Milk River patients to drive at least 30 minutes to the next nearest hospital.

The Milk River Health Centre Emergency Department will close Thursday at 7 p.m. and reopen Friday at 7 a.m. to provide 24-hour service, according to a news release.

That’s “due to a lack of physician coverage,” officials said.

EMS calls will be rerouted to Raymond Health Centre — 60 kilometres away — or Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge — 87 kilometres away. Patients who need emergency care are asked to head to those hospitals.