Temporary change of hours at Elk Point Emergency Department extended

Alberta Health Services (AHS) is extending the temporary reduction in hours at the Elk Point Healthcare Centre emergency department. This is due to a lack of nursing staff and an inability to secure temporary coverage.

The Elk Point emergency department will continue to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed overnight, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. This will allow existing staff to provide consistent service each day, during the times when the majority of emergency department visits occur.

Residents are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. EMS remains available to the community.

Patient safety and care remain the highest priorities for AHS. The organization is working hard to ensure everyone receives the care they need through its partnership with EMS and a supportive regional network of healthcare centres. The emergency department may reopen sooner if coverage can be found.

Depending on their needs, patients seeking care at the emergency department in Elk Point may also be made aware of services available through local pharmacies. Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.

Recruitment of nurses is a challenge across North America. It can be particularly difficult outside of urban centres and with practitioners who bring specialty skills.

AHS has a dedicated team focused on recruitment efforts. These efforts include aggressively pursuing both Canadian and internationally trained professionals; working to support flexible roles and scope of practice within AHS; and consulting with post-graduate education programs to enable work experience in non-urban facilities.