Sacred Heart Community Health Centre

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is 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 visiting during these quieter periods.

Busier times: No historical data is available to identify specific peak periods. As with most ERs, evenings, weekends, and holidays may see higher patient volumes. For non-urgent concerns, check with your family doctor or Health Link 811 before visiting.

About Sacred Heart Community Health Centre

Sacred Heart Community Health Centre, located at 350 3 Avenue NW in McLennan, Alberta, is the primary acute care hospital serving the Smoky River region and surrounding rural communities within Treaty 8 territory. The Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, staffed by physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and respiratory therapists who assess all patients using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). The facility offers a broad range of services for a community health centre its size, including obstetrics, intensive care, rehabilitation, and palliative care; patients requiring advanced specialized care such as cardiac surgery or complex trauma are stabilized on-site and transferred to a larger regional facility.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Obstetrics and Maternity Care, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Services, Palliative Care, Addiction and Mental Health Services (children, youth, adults, older adults), Social Work, Speech and Language Services, Therapeutic Recreation Services, Well Baby Clinic, School Health Program, Satellite Dental Clinic (basic and prosthetic dental services), In-hospital Pharmacy (inpatients and long-term care), Indigenous Hospital Support Services (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), French and Aboriginal Liaison Workers, Tuberculosis Testing, Interpreter and Translation Services, Supportive Living, Volunteer Resources, Emergency Medical Services via Smoky River Ambulance (911).

Amenities

• Cafeteria open 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 7 days a week
• Vending machines (likely available)
• In-hospital pharmacy (inpatients and long-term care patients)
• Satellite Dental Clinic on-site
• Indigenous Hospital Support Services (Elder visits, smudging, cultural accommodation)
• Wheelchair accessible facility
• Interpreter and translation services

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• Call ahead at 780-324-3730 if your situation is not life-threatening — staff can advise whether the ER or a clinic appointment is more appropriate.
• If you or a family member requires Indigenous cultural support, smudging, or Elder services, inform staff on arrival — the on-site Indigenous Hospital Support Service can assist.
• For French-speaking patients, French liaison workers are available at the facility — let reception know upon check-in.
• Visiting hours are 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM daily, so plan family visits accordingly and expect restricted access outside those hours.
• If you require highly specialized care (e.g., cardiac surgery, advanced neurology, or major trauma), be prepared for stabilization and transfer to a larger regional hospital — this is standard practice for rural facilities like Sacred Heart.

What to Bring

• Government-issued photo ID (driver's licence or passport)
• Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) card
• List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or referral letters
• Health benefits or supplemental insurance information
• Phone charger or portable battery pack for wait times
• Comfortable clothing and a light jacket or blanket
• Snacks and water for accompanying family members, as cafeteria hours are limited to 9 AM–4 PM

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.