November 16, 2023
SYLVAN LAKE – Due to a gap in physician coverage, the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service (SLAACS) will be closed on Friday, November 17 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with service resuming Saturday, November 18 at 7:30 a.m.
This closure is a temporary measure taken as a last resort after options for securing alternative physician coverage have been exhausted. Advanced Ambulatory Care cannot operate without a physician onsite. If coverage is found and services are able to resume, the community will be informed as soon as possible.
AHS and local medical staff recognize that temporary closures are concerning to the community and continue to collaborate to secure additional supports for SLAACS, in order to maintain regular service hours while providing adequate time for physicians to meet their professional obligations.
Already there is one new physician recruit practicing in the community, with five additional new physicians expected to be arriving in the new year to support SLAACS and community-based services.
Patients arriving at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre to receive care from the Advanced Ambulatory Care Service during a closure will be redirected to other available care options as appropriate to their needs. These options include returning when the service resumes, 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 Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House.
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.
