August 23, 2023
SMOKY LAKE — Due to the inability to secure physician coverage, the George McDougall - Smoky Lake Healthcare Centre emergency department will be temporarily without on-site physician coverage for 24 hours Aug. 24 at 8 a.m. – Aug. 25 at 8 a.m.
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 be re-routed to surrounding healthcare centres.
Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.
If coverage is found, disruptions may be cancelled. This is a temporary measure and AHS is working hard to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time.
We are grateful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff and would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding during this time.
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. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
