Due to gaps in physician coverage, the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service (SLAACS) will be closed over the following times in the coming days:

  • From 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 1, with services resuming at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 2, and
  • From 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 3, with services resuming at 3 p.m..

These closures are a temporary measure taken as a last resort after options for securing alternative physician coverage have been exhausted. Advanced Ambulatory Care cannot operate without a physician onsite.

AHS recognizes that such temporary closures are concerning to the community. Recruitment efforts for additional physicians continue, in collaboration with community partners, and such efforts have been successful. One of the new recruits has already begun practicing in the community, with additional new physicians expected to be providing coverage at SLAACS before the end of the year.  

Patients arriving at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre to receive care from the Advanced Ambulatory Care Service during the closure will be redirected to other available care options as appropriate to their needs.

These options include returning when the service resumes, booking an appointment with a family doctor, or calling Health Link at 811 for medical information and advice. Patients can also access medical care for urgent health concerns from facilities in nearby communities, including Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House.

SLAACS offers diagnosis and treatment of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. Examples of urgent needs include minor cuts or burns, muscle and joint strains, bone fractures, and fever in young children. SLAACS is not for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attack, signs/symptoms of stroke, head trauma, seizures etc.

 

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