The Hinton Healthcare Centre will temporarily not have on-site physician coverage for its emergency department on Thursday night.
The temporary disruption is expected to last from 9 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 26) to 7 a.m. Friday (Sept. 27).
“This is a temporary measure and [Alberta Health Services] is working hard to ensure residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time,” AHS stated in a PSA.
Nursing staff will remain on-site to provide triage, assessments and referrals for patients to alternate emergency rooms in nearby communities, if needed.
EMS will remain available for Hinton, and patients are asked to call 911 for a medical emergency or Health Link at 811 for a non-medical emergency.
Alberta Health Services will cancel the remainder of the disruption if coverage can be found.
The Hinton Healthcare Centre has experienced numerous disruptions over the past year, with Hinton Town Council declaring a local health care crisis. It also provided the Hinton Health Care Foundation with $1 million.
The Alberta government has stated it is actively recruiting more physicians for the area.