February 21, 2022
LACOMBE – The Emergency Department (ED) at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre will be temporarily closed overnight from 11 p.m. February 21 until 8 a.m. February 22, due to a gap in physician coverage.
New patients will not be admitted after 11 p.m. and those remaining in the department at that time will be treated and discharged according to their needs. Nursing staff will remain in the ED overnight to assess and triage any walk-in patients who present during the closure.
Patients will be referred to emergency departments in surrounding communities as appropriate during this time. Those with less urgent needs may be referred to local medical clinics for walk-in appointments Tuesday morning.
This closure is a temporary measure taken as a last resort. Alberta Health Services is working hard to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time, and to keep all other services at the site operating as normal.
Inpatient units and other service at the site are not impacted by this gap in physician coverage.
The ED will resume 24-hour operations as of 8 a.m. February 22.
Patients requiring emergency medical care during this time are asked to call 911. EMS will be re-routed to surrounding facilities, including the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre and Stettler Hospital and Care Centre.
Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7, for non-emergency, health-related questions.
AHS would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding during this time. AHS is thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff as well to help ensure that those who need care continue to have access to it, even if that requires getting that care at a neighbouring community.
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.
