June 9, 2024
DRAYTON VALLEY — The Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre Emergency Department (ED) will remain open and fully operational until midnight on Monday, June 10.
A previous gap in physician coverage has been filled from 8 a.m. until midnight Monday. Patients in need of emergency care will continue to be admitted to the ED as per usual until midnight, at which time the ED will temporarily close.
The ED will reopen at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12.
When gaps in physician coverage are identified, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has processes in place to seek alternative coverage to avoid disruptions to services. Should ongoing efforts to secure locum coverage have further success, the ED may reopen sooner, and the community will be notified.
Nursing staff will remain on-site in the ED during the temporary closure to assess any patients who may present to the site, and to redirect them to alternate care options depending on their needs. EMS will be available to transport patients to alternative facilities as needed, including to the Devon General Hospital, Rocky Mountain House Health Centre, Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre, Leduc Community Hospital, and Westview Health Centre in Stony Plain.
All other services at the site will continue to operate as normal during the ED closure.
While the ED is temporarily closed, patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7, for non-emergency health-related questions.
AHS is grateful for the support of local and locum physicians, as well as our hospital staff who are working to help to minimize this disruption for the community. AHS also appreciates the support of surrounding healthcare centres and staff and would like to thank the community for its 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.
