AHS says it is actively recruiting for positions to keep Milk River’s ER from more closures

By KENDALL KING on June 14, 2023.

kking@medicinehatnews.com

Alberta Health Services is working to bolster its Milk River Health Centre emergency department team in an effort to prevent further closures.

Intended to operate 24/7, the community ED has experienced numerous temporary closures throughout the past year due to a lack of physician coverage.

Of the 165 days since the start of 2023, the centre’s ED was closed – either entirely or for a portion of its regular 24-hour operation – 59 days as of today; and that number will increase as the ED is currently closed until June 23.

And while closures are ongoing, AHS says it is working to address the situation as quickly as possible, actively recruiting for a variety of positions.

“We recognize the current ED coverage model in Milk River has been under strain for some time,” AHS said in a statement to the News. “The current model relies on a primary care physician and locums – with one physician available on site or via on call to maintain the service.

“Recruitment efforts are underway as we’re looking to add a second physician for the area, a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner to further support the health-care team.”

In the statement, AHS confirmed it is not only working to fill positions, but also to support them as they transition into their new role and community in the hopes it will encourage them to settle in Milk River.

While there is no estimated timeline of when new staff may be found to fill positions, AHS maintains health-care support is available within the community, even during ED closures.

“EMS services are maintained in Milk River,” the statement read. “This includes two units that are available 24/7, and prepared to respond to emergency events and support inter-facility transfers.

“Alberta Precision Laboratories continues to redeploy staff from other rural locations to provide Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging services in Milk River. APL is also recruiting to fill the current vacancies and working with AHS to provide additional point of care services to support clinical hours.”

These services are in addition to family physicians working in the area.

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