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By Chris Brown

Temporary changes related to COVID

AHS moves to appointment-only lab collections at rural sites

Apr 30, 2020 | 2:27 PM

Lab collections at rural Alberta Health Services sites will happen by appointment only beginning on May 4.

The temporary change will help AHS control traffic in and out of the health-care facilities, thereby reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission and helping ensure lab services remain available for people who need them most.

The change will not affect lab work for hospital inpatients, and all patients requiring laboratory tests will continue to receive them.

“AHS is limiting outpatient activity at acute care and urgent care facilities as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” reads a release from AHS. “However, many rural AHS facilities offer the only laboratory services in the community. Some waiting areas in these rural lab collection sites are small and not appropriate for maintaining appropriate physical distancing. Appointment-only lab work will improve safety for rural patients at high risk for severe illness, such as those with compromised immune systems.”

The release says patients are encouraged to discuss the urgency of their lab work with their physician before booking appointments. Appointments can be made by providers or patients by phone or online.

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Bow Island Health Centre, Taber Health Centre, Bassano Health Centre and Big Country Hospital in Oyen in the region are affected by the change.

A full list of rural sites moving to appointment-only lab work, as well as telephone and online appointment booking options, can be found here.

AHS and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alberta Precision Laboratories, are informing physicians and other ordering providers about these service changes.