Temporary change to ED hours at Hardisty Health Centre

Full services will resume after COVID-19 pandemic

HARDISTY – As Alberta Health Services (AHS) proactively plans for the anticipated surge in demand for acute care and emergency department (ED) spaces due to COVID-19, AHS will be closing the ED at the Hardisty Health Centre effective April 17, 2020.

Patients arriving at the ED will be redirected to other care options as appropriate. EMS is prepared to transport patients to other nearby facilities if required. Emergency services are available at the following facilities:

• Wainwright – Wainwright Health Centre (60 kms)
• Viking Health Centre (60 kms)
• Daysland Health Centre (73 kms)
• Coronation – Coronation Hospital and Care Centre (75 kms)

All patients with potentially life-threatening conditions should immediately phone 911. Those not requiring emergency care will be directed to contact a physician’s clinic to book an appointment. The Primary Care Clinic will continue to operate as usual at the site throughout the week.

During this time, admission to acute care beds at the facility will also be temporarily paused. The five existing acute care beds will temporarily be converted to support other services, including supporting patients waiting for continuing care placement, which do not require immediate access to a physician.

Any patients requiring acute care admission will be accommodated at other nearby facilities to ensure timely access to physician care.

The temporary closure will not impact long-term care residents at the facility. Other services offered at the site, including Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Services, will also remain open. No job losses will occur at the Hardisty Health Centre as a result of these changes.

Both of these service changes are temporary measures as part of AHS’ evolving response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such changes are not made lightly, and are only done when absolutely necessary to protect vulnerable patients, staff and physicians.

Services will resume in Hardisty when the pandemic ends.

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. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.