Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) has decided to halt its temporary blood collection services program as the Kenora LifeLabs clinic has resumed its regular operating hours. The hospital initiated this service in late January to cater to patients with urgent requisitions, compensating for the reduced hours at LifeLabs earlier in the month.
LifeLabs had restricted its hours from Jan. 12 to March 23, offering appointments only from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and noon, eliminating walk-in services in the afternoons. With the reinstatement of walk-in services from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at LifeLabs on 45 Wolsley St., the hospital has opted to guide patients back to the clinic.
Cheryl O’Flaherty, the hospital’s president and CEO, mentioned that supporting this service during LifeLabs’ disruption was a natural step for LWDH. The hospital’s walk-in blood collection service, currently available from Monday to Friday between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., will cease on Thursday.
The walk-in service saw a daily attendance of 20 to 30 individuals, indicating its success. Anthony Sharp, LWDH’s VP of operations, noted the expected high patient volume due to the reduced hours at LifeLabs and the necessity of ensuring timely access to bloodwork for the community.
Despite the surge in patients, LWDH managed the temporary service without additional resources, operating under intermittent “Code Surge” status since November due to exceeding capacity. O’Flaherty emphasized the critical role of diagnostic testing in patient care continuity.
The hospital commended its dedicated staff for meeting patients’ needs efficiently. Ongoing collaboration with health-care partners is planned to prevent future service disruptions and enhance patient care accessibility, promoting a streamlined and localized care approach.