Lac La Biche & Smoky Lake hospitals without physician in ED at times this week

More disruptions this week in the Lakeland area when it comes to physicians in emergency rooms.

Both William J. Cadzow – Lac La Biche Healthcare Centre Emergency Department and George McDougall – Smoky Lake Healthcare Centre are seeing major disruption this week. 

Lac La Biche:

• 4 p.m., Monday, August 26 – 8 am., Tuesday, August 27
• 10 p.m., Wednesday, August 28 – 8 a.m., Thursday, August 29
• 4 p.m., Friday, August 30 – 8 a.m., Saturday, August 31
• 4 p.m., Tuesday, September 3 – 8 a.m., Wednesday, September 4
• 4 p.m., Wednesday, September 4 – 8 a.m., Thursday, September 5

Smoky Lake:

• 7 p.m., Monday, August 26 – 8 a.m., Tuesday, August 27
• 7 p.m., Tuesday, August 27 – 8 a.m., Wednesday, August 28
• 7 p.m., Wednesday, August 28 – 8 a.m., Thursday, August 29
• 7 p.m., Thursday, August 29 – 8 a.m., Friday, August 30

AHS says nursing staff will remain on-site in the emergency department providing triage, assessments and referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments in surrounding communities, as needed.

Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency.

“EMS will remain available to the community and will work with the local healthcare centre to ensure residents continue to have access to the emergency services they need,” the notice reads. 

Since July, there are roughly 30 days where physician coverage couldn’t be found in Smoky Lake. In the same time frame, it’s been 11 days in Lac La Biche.

Elk Point has had weekly issues on Wednesdays over the course of the summer, with six occasions in August alone scheduled to not have coverage.