Virtual Emergency Physician support added in Hardisty

HARDISTY – As a result of continued gaps in physician coverage, the hours when an on-site physician is available in the emergency department (ED) at the Hardisty Health Centre have been temporarily reduced. 

The ED will have an on-site physician from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday each week. A virtual emergency physician might be available 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Thursday and Friday each week.

During times when the ED does not have an on-site physician, nursing staff remain on-site to provide care and assistance in redirecting/referring patients to emergency departments in neighbouring communities, or other appropriate levels of service, as needed. Emergency Health Services (EHS) will remain available to the community and will work closely with nursing teams to transport patients to surrounding facilities.

The Virtual Emergency Physician program uses an experienced Alberta ED physician 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 Virtual Emergency Physician program is temporarily in place in northwestern and central Alberta communities.

Active recruitment efforts for additional physicians to support a return to expanded ED hours are ongoing. Additionally, 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 locum coverage is secured and expanded ED services restored.

All other services at the Hardisty 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.
AHS 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.