Draft for clinical review. Qualified clinical reviewer: Pending. Review date: Pending. This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Knowing where to seek care can help you reach the right service more quickly. In Alberta, your options may include a family doctor, a walk-in clinic, a pharmacist, Health Link 811, an urgent care centre, or an emergency department.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency or a serious, potentially life-threatening illness or injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. If you are unsure where to go and the situation is not an emergency, call Health Link at 811 to speak with a registered nurse.
Choose a family doctor for ongoing care
A family doctor is usually the best starting point for ongoing and preventive healthcare. Regular visits allow your healthcare team to understand your health history, monitor changes over time, and coordinate tests, prescriptions, referrals, and follow-up care.
You might contact a family doctor for:
- preventive care and routine checkups;
- monitoring diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, or another ongoing condition;
- reviewing medications and test results;
- new symptoms that are not an emergency;
- follow-up after a hospital, urgent care, or specialist visit; or
- referrals and coordination with other healthcare professionals.
Appointment availability varies. Call the clinic to ask what type of visit is appropriate and what appointments are available.
Consider a walk-in clinic for non-emergency concerns
Walk-in clinics provide non-emergency medical care, often without a scheduled appointment. They can be helpful when you do not have a family doctor, cannot reach your regular clinic, or have a concern that should be assessed during clinic hours but is not life-threatening.
A walk-in visit does not replace ongoing care. Tell the clinician about your medical history, allergies, medications, recent tests, and other healthcare visits. If you have a regular family doctor, ask how the walk-in assessment and any follow-up information can be shared with them.
Walk-in availability can change because patients are assessed according to clinical need and clinic capacity. Calling before you travel can help you confirm current hours and availability.
Use emergency services for emergencies
Emergency departments care for people who are seriously ill or injured, including those with potentially life-threatening conditions. Patients are assessed by urgency, so the most critically ill patients are treated first.
Call 911 for a medical emergency. Do not delay emergency care while waiting for a clinic to open, a website response, or a return phone call.
Peoples Medical Clinic is not an emergency department and does not provide emergency services.
If you are unsure, call Health Link 811
Health Link is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A registered nurse can discuss your concern and help you understand which healthcare option may be appropriate. Health Link does not replace 911 in an emergency.
What to bring to a clinic visit
When possible, bring:
- your Alberta Personal Health Card and government-issued identification;
- an up-to-date list of prescription medicines, non-prescription products, vitamins, and supplements;
- information about medication allergies or previous reactions;
- relevant health records, referral information, or recent test results;
- a list of your symptoms, when they started, and what makes them better or worse; and
- questions you want to discuss.
A simple rule to remember
- Ongoing or preventive care: start with your family doctor.
- A non-emergency concern when regular care is unavailable: consider a walk-in clinic or call 811.
- A serious or potentially life-threatening condition: call 911 or go to an emergency department.
This guide cannot assess an individual situation. When in doubt about a non-emergency concern, call Health Link at 811. For an emergency, call 911.
