By CHAT News Today

Limiting hospital traffic

Outpatient lab at hospital closed

Apr 15, 2020 | 5:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Outpatient Laboratory at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital is closed to the public.

A release sent by Alberta Health Services late on Wednesday says the closure is effective Wednesday, April 15. Patients who need blood work are advised to go to the Medicine Hat Collection Site on Carry Drive.

Current hours for that site are below, followed by the rest of the release:

• Patients who are immunocompromised (by physician-referred appointment only) – 7-8 a.m. Monday to Friday;
• Patients who are self-isolating and are both mobile and asymptomatic (by physician referred appointment only) – 4-5 p.m. Monday to Friday
• All patients – 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday

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The safety of vulnerable patient populations and staff within our hospitals is a priority as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve in Alberta.

We must ensure our acute care facilities are focused on treating patients with the most urgent need, and that we are doing everything we can to keep vulnerable patient populations and staff in our hospitals and collection sites safe. By limiting outpatient lab collections within hospitals, we limit traffic in and out of the hospitals and enhance physical distancing. Diverting non-urgent lab work to Patient Service Centres in the community reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission and allows us to make the best use of our laboratory resources.

As noted on the above schedule, patients who have pre-existing medical conditions – such as cancer patients, transplant patients, renal patients, and other immunocompromised patients – can still access essential lab services in a protected environment. Patients who are self-isolating due to potential exposure to COVID-19 (based on instruction from medical professionals) will also be offered special collection hours by physician referred-appointment. Please contact your physician to determine if you require an appointment.

Note that patients who continue to attend any other clinics at the hospital will have their urgent laboratory blood work collected by the onsite lab team as needed.

Individuals in the Medicine Hat-area who have questions lab services that cannot be answered by their physician can instead Alberta Precision Labs at 403-529-8932