New management coming to northern Alberta health-care centre

Management is changing this year at a health-care centre in La Crete, Alta., as the community awaits a long-desired facility.

Covenant Health announced it will be assuming operations of La Crete Community Health Centre this fall, before a new maternity health centre opens in 2027 in the hamlet roughly 550 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Starting the transition sooner will help with building relationships in the community and reduce any uncertainty from staff, Covenant Health said, adding that it will ensure a smooth changeover before the new maternity centre opens its doors.

"Most of the people around town are just wondering, 'When are they going to start?'" said Joyce Fehr, who chairs a Covenant Health community board in the area. 

"There's some concern about the services that will or won't be there, but most of the people are just waiting for it to get going… and [to] not have to travel so far to receive health services," she said.

Community members have advocated for a maternity centre for decades, as the closest hospital that performs deliveries is currently in High Level, Alta., about a 110-kilometre drive northwest of La Crete.

Residents have said multiple women in labour have had to give birth on the side of the highway en route to that hospital. 

Construction plans are underway for the $79-million maternity centre, which is in the final stages of design.

Moving staff

As part of Covenant Health's takeover, current Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff at these facilities will transition to Covenant Health. 

"Initially, Covenant Health was going to come in when the [new] facility was up and running," Fehr said.

"It made more sense to have Covenant Health take over all the services. That way, when they transition into the new facility, it's just going to be a lot easier."

AHS and Covenant Health have held multiple town halls — most recently on Jan. 30 — to inform staff and residents of what's happening, Fehr said.

"There are so many details that have to be worked out behind the scenes," she said.

Right now, Covenant Health is working with AHS and unions to ensure staff that make the transition will not lose their seniority, she said, adding that workers won't lose their pensions or jobs.