Elected officials to the north are joining forces to work towards healthcare solutions.

Lac La Biche County, the Village of Boyle, the Town of Athabasca, and Athabasca County leaders met last week in the believe that rural healthcare should not be limited by municipal borders.

In a press release, they said by working together, we can ensure that the unique advantages offered by the Lac La Biche, Boyle, and Athabasca hospitals are available to all residents in the region, including neighbours and partners in First Nations and Metis Settlements. 

“To this end, elected officials in our municipalities are working with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and provincial officials to ensure that our hospitals are used to their fullest potential. In addition to the support we already provide to local healthcare professional recruitment organizations, we are lobbying for more doctors and healthcare professionals,” the press release said. 

“We are also collaborating with AHS on a plan to formalize regionalizing our healthcare resources: due to its modernized array of equipment and facilities for obstetrics and general surgery, we are working on getting Lac La Biche’s William J. Cadzow Hospital recognized as our region’s primary healthcare centre.

We will keep our residents updated on our progress, and we are excited to share more about this partnership in the coming months.”