June 17, 2024
SYLVAN LAKE – Due to a further unexpected gap in physician coverage, the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service (SLAACS) will remain closed on Monday, June 17.
SLAACS originally was to be closed Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at which time service would resume. It will now reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18.
Patients arriving at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre to receive care from SLAACS during a temporary closure will be redirected to other available care options as appropriate to their individual needs. This may include being redirected to other facilities, being asked to return when SLAACS resumes service, or following up with a primary care provider.
Patients can access medical care for urgent health concerns from facilities in nearby communities, including Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House. Appointments scheduled with other services at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre, including laboratory appointments, or appointments with Public Health or Addiction and Mental Health services are not impacted by temporary closures of SLAACS.
The Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service 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. It is not for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attack, signs/symptoms of stroke, head trauma, seizures etc.
Patients requiring emergency medical care should call 911.
AHS and local medical staff recognize that temporary closures are concerning to the community and continue to collaborate to secure additional supports for SLAACS through ongoing recruitment efforts for example to help maintain regular service hours while also providing local physicians with the time they need to meet their professional obligations.
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.