AHS to open after-hours clinic at the Piyami Health Centre in first half of 2024

PICTURE BUTTE – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has committed to opening a new, after-hours clinic at the Piyami Health Centre that will provide residents with access to healthcare services outside of private family clinic hours.

The clinic is aimed to open within the first six months of 2024, and will restore evening and weekend care options for the community.

The contract for the previous operation of an ambulatory care clinic (ACC) located in the health centre ended earlier this month.

“There continues to be a need for evening and weekend after-hours care in the area,” says Aaron Low, Medical Director for AHS South Zone. “Opening an AHS-run clinic in the coming year will create a stable and more sustainable after-hours offering in Picture Butte, supported by on-site healthcare practitioners.”

An AHS-run clinic will operate similar to others in the zone, such as the Coaldale Health Centre, where a doctor is scheduled to be on-site during operational hours rather than on-call or virtually.

Timelines for opening the new clinic are not yet finalized as operation is dependent on the recruitment of physicians and regulated nursing professionals.

“This new model of after-hours care for the area will bolster the care already provided by the family physicians in the area,” says Joseph Schow, MLA for Cardston-Siksika and Minister of Tourism and Sport.

“Healthcare needs don’t always emerge between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., so the re-opening of an after-hours clinic in the new year will ensure residents can feel confident in accessing the care they need.”

To further support sustained healthcare services in the area, AHS is working with the town’s current family physicians to consider succession planning and has posted two primary care positions for the community.

“Rural communities are an important piece of the fabric of our province,” says Picture Butte Mayor Cathy Moore. “We’re pleased to see AHS follow through on their commitment to support healthcare in our community and look forward to the new clinic opening in early 2024.”

The Piyami Health Centre is home to many healthcare services, including laboratory and diagnostic imaging, seniors housing, supportive living, home care, allied health and public health, as well as the private clinic of a family physician.

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.