November 6, 2023
PONOKA — Due to unexpected gaps in physician coverage, the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre emergency department (ED) will be temporarily closed overnight on two occasions this week, including:
Any patients presenting to the ED during these overnight closures will be assessed by nursing staff and referred to other emergency departments in surrounding communities, depending on their condition. EMS will transport patients to other facilities if necessary, including the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre (35kms away), Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre (40kms away), and Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (56kms away).
EMS crews responding from 911 calls with patients requiring hospital care will re-route to alternative facilities as well.
Patients with non-urgent conditions will be redirected to other available care options as appropriate to their needs. These options include calling Health Link at 811 for medical information and advice, returning to the ED when it reopens if necessary, or following up with a primary care provider.
All other services at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre will continue to operate as normal during the temporary ED closures.
Recruitment of new physicians for the community continues by AHS, and we are actively working to recruit both Canadian and international medical graduates. At this time AHS has recruited four new physicians for the community, one of which is currently in the community. Two other new recruits are undergoing the required assessments and are expected to arrive in the community before the end of the year.
AHS is grateful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff, especially those who have stepped in to help minimize this coverage gap as much as possible. We would also like to thank the community for its understanding.
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.
