The Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre emergency department (ED) will be temporarily closed from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, due to a gap in physician coverage. 

Patients presenting to the site seeking ED services will be assessed by nursing staff and referred to emergency departments in surrounding communities depending on their condition.  

If necessary, EMS will transport patients to alternative sites.  

Patients with non-urgent conditions will be redirected to other care options as appropriate. 

EMS crews responding to 911 calls will re-route to surrounding facilities, including the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre, Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre, and Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, with patients who require hospital admission.  

This is a temporary measure taken as a last resort after being unable to secure coverage. All other services at the site continue to operate as normal.  

AHS is grateful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff, and would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding. 

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.