Milk River Health Centre

Milk River, AB · Open 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

✓

Open 24/7

This emergency department is open around the clock.

Current ER Wait
Unknown Unknown
🏥 24/7 Emergency
📍 Milk River

Last updated: recently · View all Alberta hospitals →

About Milk River Health Centre

Milk River Health Centre is a rural community health centre operated by Alberta Health Services, serving Milk River and the surrounding southern Alberta region with 24/7 emergency care. The emergency department provides assessment, treatment, and stabilization, with transfers arranged to Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge (approximately 87 km away) for higher-level care such as trauma, cardiac, or stroke services. This facility is well-suited for residents requiring urgent care for non-critical conditions, and also houses long-term care, home care, laboratory, X-ray, and public health services under one roof.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) patient assessment Patient stabilization and transfer coordination General Radiography (X-Ray) Laboratory Services Home Care Services Adult Outpatient & Community Physiotherapy Public Health Nursing Immunization (Adult, Infant/Preschool, and School) Mental Health Services Palliative Care Audiology and Children's Allied Health Services Alberta Healthy Living Program Better Beginnings Program Basic Life Support Ambulance Service Advanced Life Support Paramedic Service (regional) Air Ambulance Access (fixed and rotary wing) Interpreter and Translation Services

Amenities

Parking & Transit

Surface parking is expected on-site given the facility's small-town rural setting. No paid parking has been documented. Patients requiring accessibility accommodations should call the facility directly at 403-647-5511 to confirm accessible parking arrangements.

A Community Handi-Bus is available as the primary transit option for reaching Milk River Health Centre. No fixed-route public bus service operates in Milk River. Patients are encouraged to arrange transportation in advance, particularly for scheduled appointments.

Best Times to Visit

🟢 Quieter times

No historical wait time data is currently available for this facility. Generally, rural emergency departments tend to be quieter during mid-morning weekday hours. If your condition is non-urgent, calling Health Link at 811 first can help you decide the best time to visit.

🔴 Busier times

No historical wait time data is available to identify specific peak periods. Like most emergency departments, evenings, weekends, and holidays may see higher patient volumes. For non-urgent concerns, consider visiting the co-located Milk River Medical Clinic during weekday clinic hours instead.

Tips Before You Go

What to Bring

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Milk River Health Centre emergency department open 24 hours?
Yes, the emergency department at Milk River Health Centre is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays.
What types of emergencies can Milk River Health Centre treat?
The emergency department can assess and treat a wide range of urgent conditions, including illness, injuries, and acute medical needs. For higher-level emergencies such as major trauma, cardiac events, stroke, or high-risk obstetrics, staff will stabilize patients on-site and arrange transfer to Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge (approximately 87 km away).
Who provides care in the Milk River Health Centre emergency department?
Care in the emergency department is provided by a team that may include physicians, registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and respiratory therapists (RTs). All patients are assessed using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) to prioritize care based on urgency.
Is there a walk-in clinic or family doctor at Milk River Health Centre?
Yes, the Milk River Medical Clinic, part of the Chinook Primary Care Network, is co-located at the same address (517 Centre Ave E). It operates Monday to Friday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00–4:00 pm, excluding statutory holidays. For non-urgent health concerns during those hours, the clinic may be a more appropriate option than the emergency department.
Does Milk River Health Centre offer interpreter services?
Yes, interpreter and translation services are available at Milk River Health Centre. If you require language assistance, please inform staff upon your arrival.
What other health services are available at Milk River Health Centre beyond emergency care?
Beyond the emergency department, the facility offers laboratory services, general X-ray, physiotherapy, home care, mental health services, palliative care, public health nursing, immunizations, audiology, and children's allied health services. The facility also includes 21 long-term care beds and community support beds for respite and palliative care.

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 using historical volumes, current patient counts, and staffing. Actual wait times may vary.

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

↗ Open Live Map