March 31, 2023
SYLVAN LAKE – Due to a gap in physician coverage, the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service (SLAACS) will be closed on March 31 until 3 p.m.
The Service is closed today and will be available beginning 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. Friday, March 31. Normal hours of operation of 7:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. resume April 1.
This closure is a temporary measure taken as a last resort after options for securing alternative coverage have been exhausted. Such a closure is necessary for patient safety as the Service cannot operate without a physician onsite.
Patients arriving at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre to receive care at the Advanced Ambulatory Care Service during the closure will be redirected to other available care options as appropriate to their needs.
These options include returning when the service resumes tomorrow, booking an appointment with a family doctor, or calling Health Link at 811 for medical information and advice.
Patients can also access medical care for urgent health concerns from facilities in nearby communities, including Innisfail, Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House.
Alberta Health Services continues its physician recruitment efforts in Sylvan Lake to support SLAACS and access to primary care, with four new physicians hired for the community already.
SLAACS 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. SLAACS 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.
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.
