Alberta Health Services has announced that outpatient lab work will move to appointment-only starting next week in rural healthcare facilities, including Didsbury District Health Services.

The temporary move is aimed at controlling traffic in and out of rural hospitals and urgent care centres as the province continues to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Many rural AHS facilities offer the only lab services in their communities and some waiting areas are small, therefore maintaining social distancing protocols is more difficult.

It's hoped that changing to appointment-only bookings for the time being will increase safety for rural patients and help reduce the risk of spreading the virus at these facilities.

Lab work for hospital inpatients will not be impacted and AHS assures all patients needing lab tests will continue to receive them.

Anyone who needs to make an appointment for lab services at Didsbury District Health Services can call 1-877-868-6848 or book online at http://www.calgarylabservices.com/

A full list of the rural sites impacted by the change can be found HERE.

 

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