Alberta Health Services released a statement on June 8 indicating that the Stettler Hospital emergency department would be temporarily without on-site physician coverage beginning at 8 a.m. June 9 and would therefore be closed.
Because of the lack of coverage, the emergency department will be closed for a 24 hour period ending at 8 a.m. on June 10 when normal operations are expected to resume.
“(Alberta Health Services) is working to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time,” noted health services communications officer Heather Kipling in the media release.
Kipling continued that anyone requiring emergency care should call 911 instead of attending the emergency department and that Emergency Medical Services personnel will transport patients requiring care to the nearest appropriate facilities such as Lacombe, Red Deer or Drumheller.
In non-emergency situations area residents are also reminded to contact Health Link at 811, which is a 24 hour health number in the province.
While the emergency department is closed, no other services at that facility are expected to be impacted and on-call physician coverage is available to support currently admitted patients.
“(Alberta Health Services) is grateful for the support of staff and physicians who have helped minimize this temporary disruption as much as possible,” wrote Kipling.
