July 21, 2022
DRAYTON VALLEY – Access to community laboratory collections will be temporarily changed at both the Breton Continuing Care Centre and Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre due to staffing challenges.
Effective immediately, walk-in appointments have been temporarily suspended at both lab locations. All community patients requiring lab collections like blood work must make an appointment to do so. Previously booked appointments and urgent requisitions from physician clinics are not impacted.
Mobile lab collections will also continue for continuing care residents in Breton.
These changes will remain in place until early September when staffing levels are expected to stabilize.
Additionally, there may be temporary reductions in the hours of operation at the lab in Breton, depending on available staffing. These reductions will be mitigated to the fullest extent possible and one day of lab service will continue to be preserved each week until staffing challenges are resolved. Any patients with previously booked lab appointments that are impacted by staffing availability will be contacted directly to rebook at the soonest opportunity.
Lab appointments can be booked using the website aplappointments.ca or by calling the Alberta Precision Laboratories appointment line 1-833-572-0577. Patients requiring heart rhythm monitoring using the Holter device must be booked directly with the lab in Breton by calling 780-696-4708.
At this time lab appointments are available within 2 to 7 days, depending on the nature of the collection needed, at both locations.
These changes are only affecting lab collection services. Laboratory testing that is conducted in Drayton Valley is not impacted and will continue.
Alberta Precision Laboratories and AHS continue to actively recruit for additional laboratory staff at both locations.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
