The Hinton Healthcare Centre Emergency Department will be temporarily without on-site physician coverage for three nights this week.
The temporary disruption will be from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Monday (Sept. 9), Tuesday (Sept. 10) and Wednesday (Sept. 11). A similar disruption also occurred on Thursday night (Sept. 5).
Nursing staff will still be available to provide triage, assessments and referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments in neighbouring communities if needed.
EMS will remain available for Hinton, and patients are asked to call 911 for a medical emergency or Health Link at 811 for a non-medical emergency.
Alberta Health Services will cancel the remainder of the disruption if coverage can be found.
The Hinton Healthcare Centre has experienced numerous disruptions over the past year, with Hinton Town Council declaring a local health care crisis.
The Alberta government has stated it is actively recruiting more physicians for the area.
