Department of Rural Medicine
Who we are
The Department of Rural Medicine is a Clinical Department within Alberta Health Services Calgary Zone Medical Affairs portfolio. The department oversees the Rural Medical Staff which includes General Practitioners and Specialists who provide a variety of health services in our rural hospitals, urgent care centres, long term care facilities, and private primary care clinics and specialist clinics. Many of our rural communities have experienced significant growth in recent years and now have an estimated total population of over 300,000.
The Department is divided into 11 Sections which were selected by geographic location of service rather than clinical section because of the distance between services in our rural areas.
Contact Us
Department of Rural Medicine, Calgary Zone
Email: ruralmedcalzone@albertahealthservices.ca
Fax: 403-592-5102
Sections
Airdrie
Population: 2019 Census population 70,564
Location: 32 km north of the city of Calgary city centre. Calgary-Edmonton Corridor (Queen Elizabeth II Highway-Provincial Highway 2)
Facilities:
More information on Airdrie at www.airdrie.ca
Banff
Population: 2016 Census population 7,851
Location: 130 km west of Calgary in Banff National Park
Facility: Banff Mineral Springs Hospital
More information on Banff at www.banff.ca
Black Diamond
Population: 2016 Census population 2,552
Location: 58 km southwest of Calgary city centre on Highway 22
Facility: Oilfields General Hospital
More information on Black Diamond at www.town.blackdiamond.ab.ca
Canmore & Lake Louise
Canmore
Population: 2016 Census population 11,764
Location: 106 km west of Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway
Facility: Canmore General Hospital
More information on Canmore at www.canmore.ca
Lake Louise
Population: 2016 Census population 1,028
Location: 60 km west of Banff on the Trans Canada Highway
More information on Lake Louise at www.banfflakelouise.com
Claresholm
Population: 2016 Census population 3,424
Location: 140 km south of Calgary on Highway 2
Facilities:
- Claresholm General Hospital
- Willow Creek Continuing Care Centre
- Claresholm Centre for Mental Health & Addictions
- David Lander Treatment Centre
More information on Claresholm at www.claresholm.ca
Cochrane
Population: 2016 Census population 25,289
Location: 36 km west of Calgary’s city centre on Highway 1A
Facilities:
More information on Cochrane at www.cochrane.ca
Didsbury
Population: 2016 Census population 5,222
Location: 72 km north of Calgary on Highway 2 and 6 km west on Highway 582
Facility: Didsbury District Health Services
More information on Didsbury at www.didsbury.ca
High River & Nanton
High River
Population:2019 Census population 14,052
Location: 55 km south of Calgary on Highway 2
Facility: High River General Hospital
More information on High River at www.highriver.ca
Nanton
Population: 2016 Census population 2,130
Location: 94 km south of Calgary’s city centre on Highway 2
Facility: Nanton Community Health Centre
More information on Nanton at www.nanton.ca
Okotoks
Population: 2016 Census population 28,881
Location:18 km south of Calgary’s city limits on Highway 7
Facility: Okotoks Health & Wellness Centre
More information on Okotoks at www.okotoks.ca
Strathmore
Population: 2016 Census population 13,756
Location: 40 km east of Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway
Facility: Strathmore & District Health Services
More information on Strathmore at www.strathmore.ca
Vulcan
Population: 2016 Census population 1,917
Location: 120 km southeast of Calgary on Highway 23
Facility: Vulcan Community Health Centre
More information on Vulcan at www.townofvulcan.ca
Primary Care Networks
Primary Care Networks (PCN) are a made-in-Alberta approach to improve access to, and better coordinate primary health care for Albertans province-wide. In a Primary Care Network, a team of health professionals led by family physicians delivers and co-ordinates health services, resulting in better collaboration, more timely referrals and more comprehensive care. A Network can be comprised of one clinic with many family physicians and other health professionals (e.g. nurse practitioners, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers and mental health professionals), or several family physicians in several clinics in a geographic area. Each Network has the flexibility to develop programs and provide services in a way that works locally to meet the specific health needs of patients. Networks are established within the framework set by Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW), Alberta Medical Association (AMA) and Alberta Health Services (AHS).
There are four PCNs which support the geographic areas of AHS’ Calgary Zone (Rural):
The Calgary Foothills PCN serves residents in north Calgary and Cochrane.
The Bow Valley PCN serves residents of the Bow Valley including: Banff, Canmore, Dead Man’s Flats, Exshaw, Harvie Heights, Kananaskis, Lac des Arcs, Lake Louise and Morley.
The Highland PCN provides primary care services to the communities of Airdrie, Carstairs, Didsbury and Crossfield.
The Calgary Rural Primary Care Network serves residents in the communities of Arrowwood, Black Diamond, Bragg Creek, Chestermere, Claresholm, Eden Valley, Gleichen, High River, Langdon, Nanton, Okotoks, Siksika First Nation, Strathmore, and Vulcan.