Shocking news with the announcement the Cochrane Primary Care Centre is closing permanently by January 2022 and possibly sooner.

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network states the changing environment, including the pandemic, resulted in the PCN having to make the decision to close this medical clinic within the next nine months.

“This is not a decision we wanted to have to make,” says Calgary Foothills PCN Executive Director Darren Caines. “The financial impact of the pandemic combined with the departure of physicians meant the business model was no longer sustainable in Cochrane. We are still working out the details but we wanted to give doctors, staff and patients as much notice as possible.”

Patients can search for doctors accepting new patients on the Alberta Find a Doctor website (albertafindadoctor.ca).

Currently, there is one family doctor in Cochrane taking new patients and 37 doctors in NW Calgary neighbourhoods near Cochrane. There is a total of 48 Calgary Foothills PCN doctors taking new patients. The PCN will help the remaining doctors and staff with the transition including the possibility of filling vacant positions elsewhere in the PCN with Cochrane clinic staff.

“Supporting primary care in Cochrane remains important to Calgary Foothills PCN,” says the PCN’s Medical Director Dr. Janet Reynolds. “The PCN will continue to support team-based family medicine in Cochrane by providing our member physicians and patients access to the PCN’s multidisciplinary health team professionals, programs, and group workshops.”

Cochrane Primary Care Centre facts

  • #103, 100 Grande Blvd • Opened in 2011
  • 50% of doctors at the clinic have/are departing
  • Scheduled to close by January 2022
  • Available PCN health team in Cochrane: health management nurse, mental health counsellors, and community pharmacies

More to follow.