From time to time our doctors will take on new patients at their discretion. Our current doctor’s practices are full. They limit the number of patients they accept into their practice to ensure their patients can be seen in a timely manner and they can provide the best quality care. Please check with the clinic to inquire if any doctors are taking new patients. You may check the Wolf Creek PCN website to find a doctor accepting new patients in Central Alberta.
Our offices are open from Monday to Thursday – 8:30 until 4:30. We are closed over the lunch hour. On Fridays are office is open from 8:30 until noon. After office hours please attend to your nearest hospital for any emergency care. The office is closed on statutory holidays.
Currently our physicians prefer to see our patients in person. However, the physicians do provide exceptions. Please call the office for details.
We are not a walk-in clinic. Appointments are necessary. We provide medical services to the patients of this clinic only. Should you need more immediate attention – please call our offices prior to attending a Walk-In clinic as we may have same day appointments available.
Currently appointments can be booked by phone or in person.
This is to ensure they have booked the appropriate length of the appointment and to have all the necessary supplies required ready for the doctor to maximize the amount of time they can spend with you. It is also to assist the physician in knowing the reason for your appointment.
Your doctor does not take unscheduled phone calls from patients. Taking random patient calls throughout the day would cause the doctor to fall behind in booked appointments with other patients. If you wish to speak to your doctor, please call the clinic and book an appointment. Our support staff will also do their best to help you with any immediate concern you may have and redirect you appropriately.
There are times when health concerns of our patients arise suddenly and unpredictably. These concerns often cannot wait for an appointment several days away, such as earache, sore throat, urinary tract infection, breast lump, sudden onset of bowel or bladder issues. To accommodate these urgent concerns more quickly there is a walk-in clinic available in Lacombe. We do occasionally offer same day appointment. Please call our office prior to attending the walk-in clinic.
There are many factors which can cause a doctor to be running late. Some of them could be, unexpected problems with an inpatient or long-term care patient while the doctor is doing rounds at the hospital prior to coming to the clinic, patients seen earlier in the day not booking the appropriate length of appointment. It can also be something urgent arising from a pre-booked appointment which may require taking a call from another physician or nurse.
Alberta Health does not pay for some services that are not covered by AHS. Uninsured services may include: wart treatment, cortisone medication, driver’s medicals, private letters, forms, and examinations requested by 3rd parties (i.e insurance, work, or school).
We have one Primary Care Physician per patient. Having a relationship with one doctor is important for proper follow-up and reviewing of results. In urgent situations other doctors in the clinic will be able to see you on a walk-in basis.
Due to the shortage of available appointments and the volume of no shows we have updated our policy to set a zero-tolerance for ‘no show’ appointments. Effective July 01, 2024, there will be a fee if you do not show up for your appointment. Your early cancellation gives other patients to have an opportunity to access medical care. A “no-show” is a patient who misses an appointment without prior cancellation of a minimum of 2 hours before booked appointment time. No-shows inconvenience and restrict those patients who need critical access to medical care in a timely manner.
Regular clinic appointment no-show: $50
Procedures, annuals and all longer appointment no-show: $75
All no-show fees must be paid prior to booking with any provider in our clinic.
We generally do not fill a prescription over the phone or at the request of your pharmacist. When your pharmacy has filled your last refill – please call the office to make an appointment for a new prescription. Renewing your prescription is your responsibility. Please do not leave it until the last pill or you may risk running out. Your pharmacist may be able to extend your prescription until you are able to speak with your doctor.
The Health Information Act requires that we have consent from any adult over the age of 18 and on occasion anyone under the age of 18 at their request, to give information to other family members, friends, etc. This information can include results, appointment information, referral information. The doctor cannot give any information regarding a patient unless the patient has provided us with prior consent. Verbal consent can be given for a one-time release of information. Patient confidentiality is in place to protect the patients.
The personal health information that you provide is collected, used, and disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the Health Information Act (HIA). The privacy provisions of the legislation require that we protect your health information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure or destruction.
You are required to book an appointment for blood work at the lab. This may be done by calling 1.877.702.4486. You can also book online at https://qme.albertaprecisionlabs.ca/
Many blood test results are available within 24 hours. Some of these can be reviewed through the Alberta ‘MyHealth Records’. Reports for imaging, such as x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs and mammograms are not always seen on ‘MyHealth Records’. These reports have usually be sent to our office within 2 or 3 days. You will be contacted by phone from the office if there are urgent results that need to be discussed. At any time, if you would like to discuss results with your physician, please book an appointment to do so.
My Health records is an online tool that lets Albertans see some of their Health Information such as, medicines you’ve had from the pharmacy in the past 18 months, most immunizations you’ve had in Alberta, and most common lab test results from the last 18 months. You can sign up for this at https://myhealth.alberta.ca/myHealthRecords
If you have been told by your physician that a referral would be made or a test would be booked, it is reasonable to call the clinic to check if it was sent after two weeks. Please note that our clinic doctors and staff are unable to control the length of wait time. Referrals are triaged by the specialist office or testing facility, and they decide how urgent your appointment will be.
Not all medical services are covered by Alberta Health Care. These include driver’s medicals – Class one license, regular drivers and Senior’s all require payment. Charges need to be paid at the time of the service and are the responsibility of the patient.
It is very important for you to update your contact information with us and to keep it current. We do our best to ask – but it is the responsibility of you as patient to inform us of any change. This courtesy ensures that we always have the most update information to be able to contact you.
Please call the clinic and speak to one of our qualified staff. In some instances, an appointment with your doctor is required and you will be booked. If you are dropping off a form for your doctor to complete, please make sure you have signed the authorization. Your doctor cannot complete the form if it is not signed. Prepayment may be required.
We do not provide either the influenza vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine at our clinic. The flu vaccine is available through your local health unit or many pharmacies throughout the province. The COVID-19 vaccine is available through AHS, some pharmacies throughout the province and some doctor’s offices. COVID-19 vaccine appointments can be made at www.albertahealthservices.ca or by calling 811.