Temporary hours continue through March at Elk Point Emergency Department

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

Until March 31, 2023, the Elk Point emergency department will remain open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. This will allow current 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 calls will be re-routed to St. Paul (35km), Bonnyville (51 km) and Cold Lake (104km).

Signage will be placed at the front door stating the closure. Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.

The emergency department may reopen sooner if coverage can be found. This is a temporary measure and AHS is working hard to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care
they need during this time.

We are thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff and would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding during this time. Recruitment of nurses is a challenge across North America. It can be particularly difficult outside of urban centres and with practitioners who bring special 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 full scope of practice within AHS; and consulting with education programs to enable
work experience in non-urban facilities.

We are grateful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff and would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding.