The East Kootenay Primary Care Network is working with family practice clinics in East Kootenay communities to help individuals and families find a family doctor or nurse practitioner. If you, your family, or a person in your care lives in the following communities and surrounding areas, you may register with the Health Connect Registry:

• Cranbrook, ʔaq̓am, Moyie
• Creston, Yaqan Nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay Band), Wynndel, Yahk
• Fernie, Elkford, Sparwood, Elko, Jaffray, Grasmere, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʾit (Tobacco Plains)
• Kimberley

Please note: The Sparling East Medical Clinic in Fernie’s list is being integrated to the Health Connect Registry. If your name is already on the Sparling East list:

• You can register yourself on the HCR.
• You will not lose your place in line.
• Your registration date will be changed to the one you have on the waitlist that was previously created.

When a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) becomes available you will be contacted directly. At this time, we do not have an anticipated timeline for patients to expect to be attached to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

Register Now

Emergency Care

If you’ve been in a major accident or have a life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1 or go to your closest emergency department.

Examples include trouble breathing, chest pain/pressure, severe pain, heavy bleeding, signs of stroke:face, droop, arm/leg weakness and difficulty speaking, etc.

Care Options for Unattached Patients

• Cranbrook: Visit the Cranbrook Urgent and Primary Care Centre.
• Creston: Visit the Emergency Department in the Creston Valley Hospital and Health Centre.
• Golden: Call the Golden Medical Clinic at (250) 344-2211.
• Fernie: Visit the Emergency Department in the Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie. Patients can also phone the Sparling East Clinic at 250-423-4442 or Rocky Mountain Health Clinic at 250-423-4718 to see what care options are available. For routine Pap test or Sexual Health contact Fernie Opt Clinic.
• Invermere: Call the Invermere Medical Clinic at (250) 342-9206 or Chisel Peak Clinic at (250) 341-6900 for same day appointments. Once those have been exhausted patients are encouraged to visit the emergency department at the Invermere and District Hospital.
• Kimberley: Call the Kimberley Medical Clinic. This is not a walk-in clinic; please call to make an appointment.
• Sparwood and Elkford: Visit the Emergency Departments of Sparwood; Fernie. Please note the Sparwood Emergency Department closes at 7 p.m. Please visit the Elk Valley Hospital for Urgent Care after 7 p.m.

Maternity Care

• Cranbrook: Expectant parents can access comprehensive pregnancy care at the Encompass Pregnancy Care clinic. Call 250-420-2323 to book an appointment.
• Creston: Expectant parents can access care at Maple Maternity Clinic. Call 250-428-3873 to make an appointment.
• Fernie: Expectant parents can find more information on maternity care using Pathways Medical Care Directory.
• Golden: Expectant Parents can call the Golden Medical Clinic at 250-344-2211.
• Invermere: Expectant parents can call the Invermere Medical Clinic at 250-342-9206 or Chisel Peak Medical Clinic at (250) 341-6900 to see what care options are available. Or, for contact details for the local midwives visit the Pathways Medical Care Directory.
• Kimberley: Expectant parents can call the clinic 250-427-4861.
• Sparwood and Elkford: Expectant parents can find more information on maternity care in the Upper Elk Valley using Pathways Medical Care Directory.

Community Services:

• 211 British Columbia
• Interior Health Child, Community & Home Care

First Nations/Aboriginal Health Services:

• Ktunaxa Health
• ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation Health Contacts
• Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʾit – Tobacco Plains Indian Band Health Contacts
• ʔaq̓am – St. Mary’s Health and Wellness
• Yaqan Nuʔkiy – Lower Kootenay Band Health Services
• Shuswap Indian Band Health Department
• First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day

East Kootenay Primary Care Network

The East Kootenay Primary Care Network (EK PCN) is a network of team-based care providers in the region working together to create an integrated system of quality care that meets the diverse health needs of a community.

The EK PCN is enabled by a partnership between the EK Division of Family Practice, Ktunaxa Nation, and Interior Health.

In the EK PCN, teams of health professionals—such as family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, mental wellness clinicians, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, respiratory therapists, social workers, and Aboriginal care navigators—work together to ensure patients receive the care they need.

The East Kootenay Primary Care Network:

• Enhances patient care using a team-based approach to care.
• Supports the establishment of self-managing teams of health care providers who support each other and work to their strengths.
• Further links patients to other parts of the system, including specialized community services programs.
• Collectively increases a community’s capacity to provide greater access to primary care for people without a primary care provider.

About Primary Care Networks and the Health Connect Registry

PCNs are community-based networks of health care professionals and clinics who plan and deliver all day-to-day health care needs of a community. Within these networks, teams of providers work together. This way, patients receive better care, by the right person, at the right time, closer to home.

PCNs are part of the Province's Primary and Community Care Strategy to make sure you have faster and better access to the everyday health care services.

The Health Connect Registry is part of this strategy. The registry works with active PCNs who have the infrastructure in place, to help patients find a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner, because we know that having a regular provider leads to better health for you and your family.

Update Your Information

Keeping information on the Health Connect Registry up to date is important. This will help us connect you to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. If you need to update information on the Health Connect Registry for yourself, your family or person in your care, please contact HealthLink BC by dialing 8-1-1, or for the deaf and hard of hearing, dialing 7-1-1.

A HealthLink BC health service navigator will ask you for the Client ID you received when you registered and your personal health number. If you are updating information on behalf of your family or a person in your care, you will require their Client ID and personal health number to make an update.

Information on the Health Connect Registry can only be updated by phone at this time.

Health Services and Support

While you are waiting to be connected with a family doctor or nurse practitioner, please consider the following for accessing health services and support.

Call HealthLink BC

HealthLink BC provides free health information and advice any time of the day or night. Call us toll-free at 8-1-1 in B.C., or for the deaf and hard of hearing, call 7-1-1. A health service navigator will help you find the information you are looking for or transfer you to a registered nurse, registered dietitian, licensed pharmacist or qualified exercise professional. Our navigators can also help you find a health service in your community such as a walk-in clinic or urgent primary care centre. Translation services are available in over 130 languages.

Visit your local walk-in clinic

You are welcome to visit a walk-in clinic. Walk-in clinic doctors can diagnose, manage illnesses, prescribe medication, order medical tests and make referrals to specialists. Please visit our HealthLinkBC Directory to find a clinic close to where you live.

Find health services and support in your community

Search our HealthLinkBC Directory to find health services in B.C. We list all publicly-funded health, mental health and addiction treatment programs. If you need help finding a health service, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 and speak with one of our health service navigators.

Last updated: March 9, 2023

The content and resources included on this webpage have been jointly created and curated by the East Kootenay Primary Care Network and HealthLink BC.