Bow Island Health Centre

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this facility. Generally, rural emergency departments tend to be less busy on weekday mornings and early afternoons. If your condition is non-urgent, consider calling 811 (Health Link) for advice before visiting.

Busier times: No historical wait data is available for Bow Island Health Centre. As with most ERs, evenings and weekends can sometimes see higher volumes. Call ahead at 403-545-3200 if you are unsure whether an ER visit is necessary.

About Bow Island Health Centre

Bow Island Health Centre, located at 938 Centre St in Bow Island, Alberta, is a combined acute care and continuing care facility serving Bow Island and the surrounding rural communities of southeastern Alberta. The emergency department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing assessment, treatment, stabilization, and referral services for patients of all ages. Patients who require a higher level of care are stabilized on-site and transferred to an appropriate facility, such as Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Acute and sub-acute medicine, Triage using Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), Patient stabilization and transport coordination, General radiography (X-ray) — Monday to Friday, 8:15 am–4:15 pm, Laboratory and outpatient collection services (weekdays), Adult outpatient and community physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Addiction and Mental Health – Community Addiction Services, Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART), Best Babies program, Building Blocks program, Continuing care with 24/7 residential nursing, Respite and day programs for community-based clients, Podiatry, social work, and pastoral counselling (continuing care), Interpreter and translation services.

Amenities

• Cafeteria — open 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, seven days a week
• Vending machines on-site
• Pastoral counselling (through continuing care program)
• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Interpreter and translation services available

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care →

Pharmacists in Alberta can assess and prescribe for dozens of common conditions. See what they can treat →

Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →

Tips Before You Go

• After 9:00 pm, the front entrance is locked. Use the phone located in the entry vestibule to contact the Nurse's Station and gain access to the building.
• If you need lab work or X-rays, plan to arrive on a weekday — the lab is closed on weekends and statutory holidays, and X-ray services run Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 4:15 pm.
• Patients are triaged using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), so those with the most serious conditions are seen first — be prepared to wait if your condition is non-urgent.
• If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) at the facility offers confidential, voluntary support at no cost.
• For emergencies requiring specialized or intensive care beyond what is available locally, staff will stabilize you and coordinate transfer to Medicine Hat Regional Hospital or another appropriate facility.

What to Bring

• Provincial health card (Alberta Health Card / AHCIP)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, including dosages
• List of known allergies
• Any relevant medical records or referral letters
• Personal health insurance information if applicable
• Phone or charger for extended waits
• Comfort items if bringing a child (snack, toy, or blanket)

Frequently Asked Questions

About ER Wait Times

Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.

Wait times are estimates based on Alberta health data. Actual wait times may vary.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.