November 18, 2023
PONOKA — Due to an unexpected lack of available physicians and the inability to secure temporary physician coverage, the Ponoka Emergency Department (ED) will be temporarily without on-site physician coverage from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Saturday, Nov. 18.
During this time, nursing staff will remain on-site in the Emergency Department providing urgent triage and assessments and referrals for patients.
Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. EMS remains available and will be re-routed to alternate Emergency Departments in neighbouring communities.
This is a temporary measure and AHS is working hard to ensure residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time.
Depending on their needs, patients seeking care at the ED in Ponoka may also be made aware of services available through local pharmacies. Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.
We are thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff and would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding during this time.
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.
