A series of emergency department closures across northern Alberta renews concerns about access to emergency medical care in rural communities. Photo by Candace Elliott /Postmedia

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A series of emergency department closures across northern Alberta has renewed concerns over access to emergency medical care in rural communities, with multiple hospitals reducing services within days of one another. 

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Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced temporary service disruptions at hospitals in Beaverlodge and Grimshaw/Berwyn, with no physicians secured to staff emergency rooms, while McLennan has also experienced recent emergency department interruptions. 

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The Grimshaw/Berwyn and District Community Health Centre emergency department is scheduled to be without onsite physician coverage from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from July 30 through Aug. 2 because of what AHS described as “an unexpected clinical personnel shortage and inability to secure temporary coverage.” A Virtual Emergency Physician is expected to provide remote support during all or part of those shifts. 

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The Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital emergency department is facing an even longer disruption, with onsite physician coverage unavailable for much of July 29 through Aug. 3. Nursing staff will continue providing assessments, triage and referrals, while virtual physicians may assist with non-life-threatening cases through telephone or videoconference. 

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Patients experiencing medical emergencies are being instructed to call 911, with ambulance services rerouted to surrounding facilities. 

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The announcements underscore the growing challenges faced by northern Alberta hospitals, where physician vacancies, illness, vacation schedules and limited access to locum physicians can quickly force temporary emergency department closures.  

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The closures come as similar staffing shortages continue to affect communities across the Peace Country on both sides of the Alberta-British Columbia border. 

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In B.C., Hudson’s Hope Health Centre has been without emergency department services throughout July and will remain closed until Aug. 4 . Northern Health said the community is operating with just one physician while recruitment efforts continue for a second doctor. It marks the latest closure for the community following another two-week emergency department shutdown earlier this spring. 

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Farther north, Fort Nelson General Hospital also announced another temporary emergency department closure because of staffing shortages this week, leaving residents to rely on ambulance transfers, virtual care options and alternate facilities until services resume. 

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The Dawson Creek and District Hospital reopened Wednesday this week following an early morning closure from 5 a.m. to noon due to “staffing challenges.” 

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