As the clock runs out on 2017, those living in Sylvan Lake and area can look forward to be able to receive enhanced medical treatment in the community next year, without the need to travel to Red Deer.

Advanced Ambulatory Care Service will be offered out of the Community Health Centre by the end of May, after the province pledged 2 million dollars last January to renovate the building; that work will start next month.

Chair of the Sylvan Lake and Area Urgent Care Committee, Susan Samson explains what the Centre will be offering thanks to their hard working medical community.

“Our local Doctor’s, and we have 16 of them right now and they are recruiting for more Doctor’s for our community, will be manning the Ambulatory Care Centre 7 days a week with extended hours and we have the option to work up to 16 hours a day, the actual hours have not been set yet, but they will go late into the evening, we do know that”.

Samson says they are beyond fortunate for the partnership they have forged with their local medical professionals.

“These Doctor’s in my mind are some of the busiest people in this community, that they can add that extra load to their existing work load of running a clinic 5 and 6 days a week with some evening hours is really nothing short of a miracle.  We’re pretty happy because this wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of the local physicians”.

The Advanced Ambulatory Care Centre will be equipped to treat childhood illness, dehydration, broken bones, lacerations, non-life threating injuries.

The move to the Health Centre made sense so they will be near Lab and X-ray Services, as a result, Community Rehabilitation Services will be opening up in Cobbs Block Central next month.

Samson's committee has worked tirelessly lobbying for urgent care services for over 6 years, raising $200,000 to buy medical equipment, the ongoing operating finances will come from Alberta Health Services and the province.