Adjusted hours of operation: - Open Tuesday 0800 – 2000 - Open Wednesday 0800 – 2000 - Open Thursday 0800 – 2000 - Open 24 hours per day starting Fridays at 0700 through to Mondays at 2000 (Due to clinical personnel shortage)
Normally: usually 24/7
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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)
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
Is Bow Island Health Centre's emergency department open around the clock?
Yes, the emergency department at Bow Island Health Centre is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the front entrance locks at 9:00 pm. After hours, use the phone in the entry vestibule to reach the Nurse's Station for access.
What happens if I need care beyond what Bow Island Health Centre can provide?
The emergency team will assess and stabilize you, then arrange transport to a facility that can provide the higher level of care you need — typically Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.
Are X-ray and laboratory services available at this facility?
Yes. General radiography (X-ray) is available Monday through Friday, 8:15 am to 4:15 pm. Laboratory and outpatient collection services are also available on-site on weekdays; the lab is closed on weekends and statutory holidays. Walk-in lab visits are accepted until 30 minutes before closing.
Does Bow Island Health Centre offer mental health or addiction services?
Yes. The facility offers Community Addiction Services and hosts a Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART), which provides voluntary, confidential support for individuals of any gender experiencing domestic violence, at no cost.
Can I get a meal or snack while waiting in the emergency department?
The cafeteria is open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, seven days a week. Vending machines are also available on-site for times outside cafeteria hours.
Is translation or interpreter service available at this ER?
Yes. Interpreter and translation services are available at Bow Island Health Centre to help ensure all patients can communicate effectively with their care team.