May 7, 2023
EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services (AHS), with the help of our EMS teams, have evacuated several healthcare sites in response to evacuation orders issued due to the current wildfire risk. The health and safety of patients and staff remains AHS’ top priority. We are continuously monitoring the wildfire situation and continue to work closely with our community partners.
Evacuated acute care patients, long-term care and continuing care residents continue to be moved to other facilities across the province. While this has been an extremely challenging situation, the evacuations have gone well thanks to the cooperation of those having to move and the hard work of our staff, physicians, and supporting agencies. All zones are actively working around the clock to ensure patients and residents are safely cared for in temporary locations.
Evacuated patients and continuing care residents are being relocated in safe and appropriate settings. All zones are opening care spaces to accommodate those in need. These relocations are happening through EMS, chartered buses and flights as required. Patients and residents are being accompanied and supported by staff.
AHS is contacting families of loved ones to share patient/resident location information.
AHS has been working to identify additional staffing supports across all zones to ensure patients, residents and our care teams continue to be appropriately supported.
AHS sites safely evacuated and closed to date are:
If you have an emergency, please call 911. EMS resources remain in evacuated areas to provide support to those who need.
All appointments with laboratory services, mental health and public health in evacuated communities are postponed at this time. Clients will be contacted directly by AHS to be rescheduled as soon as possible. Home care clients impacted by evacuations are being contacted to arrange for alternative home visits and support from nursing teams.
Our teams are working with municipal leaders in these communities to establish plans for re-entry when it is deemed safe to do so.
We are extremely grateful for our frontline staff, leaders and physicians who have come together to support the response across AHS, and especially to those who have been evacuated along with their families. We are also grateful for our partner organizations, including several continuing care organizations that continue to support these efforts.
We are also appreciative of our community partners and volunteers who continue to answer when called upon for their support.
AHS provides wildfire resources for Albertans at AHS.ca/wildfire, including mental health, air quality, and emergency planning links.
AHS also has resources and services available to help you and your loved ones cope with healthcare needs and stress in this difficult time. Experiencing an evacuation can be stressful and overwhelming. If you need to talk, call the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642 or Health Link at 811.
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.
