The Airdrie Community Health Centre’s urgent care facility has temporarily closed its doors this week, leaving residents to seek medical attention elsewhere as critical infrastructure upgrades take place. The closure, which began Monday morning, is expected to last until Friday at 7 a.m., marking a significant but necessary disruption to healthcare services in the rapidly growing community.
“This temporary closure allows for essential upgrades to our electrical systems that simply cannot be completed while maintaining patient services,” explained Dr. Elizabeth Weston, medical director for the facility. “While inconvenient, these improvements will ultimately enhance our capacity to serve Airdrie residents with more reliable infrastructure.”
Alberta Health Services confirmed the shutdown affects only the urgent care department, with all other services at the health centre continuing to operate on their regular schedules. The urgent care facility typically handles non-life-threatening conditions requiring same-day treatment but not emergency intervention.
During the closure, residents requiring urgent medical attention are being directed to facilities in neighboring communities. Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Centre and Rockyview General Hospital remain the closest alternatives, though patients should expect increased wait times as these facilities absorb additional patient volume from Airdrie.
“We’re implementing additional staffing at surrounding facilities to accommodate the temporary increase in patient numbers,” noted Sarah Johnson, AHS operations coordinator for the Calgary zone. “Our goal is to minimize disruption to patient care while completing these essential upgrades.”
The timing of the closure has raised concerns among some community members, particularly as respiratory illness season continues. Jennifer Morris, a mother of three young children in Airdrie, expressed frustration about the scheduling.
“With three kids under 10, we’ve used urgent care several times for fevers and minor injuries,” Morris told CO24 Canada News. “Having to drive to Calgary during a weekday means taking more time off work if something happens.”
Local officials emphasize that anyone experiencing life-threatening emergencies should continue to call 911 rather than attempting to drive to alternative facilities. Meanwhile, for less urgent matters, residents are encouraged to consider virtual care options or consult with their family physicians when possible.
The Airdrie Community Health Centre has seen steadily increasing demand in recent years, reflecting the community’s population growth of nearly 20 percent since 2016. The current upgrades represent part of a broader $3.2 million investment in updating the facility’s infrastructure to support future healthcare needs.
This week’s closure highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining and upgrading healthcare infrastructure while minimizing service disruptions. As communities like Airdrie continue to grow at rapid rates, how can provincial health authorities better balance necessary facility improvements with the immediate healthcare needs of expanding populations?
