There will still be a service disruption over the Thanksgiving weekend at Lac La Biche's W. J. Cadzow Hospital — but it won't be for as long.
After finding a physician to cover part of a vacant shift, the hospital's Emergency department will only be without an on-site doctor for 16 hours to start the long weekend, not 24 hours as was earlier announced.
Early Thursday afternoon Alberta Health Services issued a statement saying that starting Friday morning the hospital would be without an on-site physician for 24 hours. But just a few hours later, the advisory was updated after a physician was found to cover part of the time-frame.
"Physician coverage has been found ... from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, October. 6," states the new announcement issued just after 4 pm. "The emergency department will remain open and available to area residents in need of urgent care during these times."
Original story prior to coverage disruption being redcued
This is the second short-duration disruption in two weeks at the Lac La Biche hospital. Over the last 18 months, more than a dozen similar disruptions have taken place at the hospital. Other facilities across the Lakeland have experienced similar disruptions due to a wide-spread shortage of physicians. The Lac La Biche region currently has five full time physicians. Recently, Lac La Biche County Mayor Paul Reutov said at least 12 physicians are required to adequately serve the area.
