Temporary Overnight Emergency Department Disruption in Two Hills

TWO HILLS — Due to a temporary gap in physician coverage, the Two Hills Health Centre Emergency Department (ED) will be without on-site physician coverage from:

• 8 p.m. Friday, February 20 to 8 a.m. Saturday, February 21
• 8 p.m. Saturday, February 21 to 8 a.m. Sunday, February 22
• 8 a.m. Sunday, February 22 to 8 a.m. Monday, February 23

Currently, regular ED hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, and 24/7 throughout weekends, from Fridays at 8 a.m. to Mondays at 8 a.m.

When the ED is without on-site physician coverage, nursing staff will remain in the department to support any patients presenting to the site. As well, the facility may have coverage from a Virtual Emergency Physician (VEP) during some of those times. An updated schedule for VEP coverage will be posted at the facility.

The VEP program uses an experienced Alberta physician with emergency medicine experience to remotely support facilities temporarily without available on-site ED physician support. Site clinical staff can connect with an AHS physician by telephone or videoconference for ED patients with non-life-threatening issues. This off-site virtual physician can collaborate with local staff, speak with patients, order tests and medications, and transfer or discharge patients.

The VEP program is temporarily in place in Two Hills and Coronation, as well as several northern Alberta communities.

Active recruitment efforts for additional physicians to support a return to expanded ED hours are ongoing. Additionally, Alberta Health Services (AHS) continues to explore all options for locum coverage to help minimize the reduction in ED hours for the community.

The community will be notified if expanded ED hours are restored.

All other services at the Two Hills Health Centre site will continue to operate as normal while the ED hours are reduced.

Residents 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.

Alberta Health Services is grateful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff, and would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding during this time.

Alberta Health Services provides acute care services for more than five million Albertans at hospitals, urgent care centres and health centres across the province. Our mission is to provide excellent and accessible patient-focused healthcare for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, increasing access to surgeries and improving patient flow.