Healthcare in Claresholm

Basic Healthcare Information

Basic healthcare services are free to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary foreign workers in Alberta. Health care in Canada is publicly funded, and the cost of health and medical is shared by taxpayers. This single-payer system means that eligible users often do not have to pay for most health care and hospital services in Canada. Items such as prescription medicines, dental care, physiotherapy, prescription eyeglasses may not be covered by this plan, and this will be a cost to you if you do not have other private medical insurance plans, sometimes known as extended health benefits.

If you have a current Alberta Health Care Card (AHC) the following services are free. You must always keep this card with you.

Doctor’s and nurse’s appointment including emergency doctor visits
Public Surgery
Laboratory
X-Ray
Ultrasounds

Extended health benefits might be included in your employment, or partially paid by your employer or at a full cost to you. These health benefits can assist you in paying for certain services, such as vision care, dental, and specific therapies. Should your employer not offer extended health benefits, you may purchase them.

There are many extended health benefit providers: Alberta Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, AMA as examples – Research the services of each, compare monetary charges, and select a provider that will meet the needs of your family.

If you need help with choosing an Extended Health Benefit provider, please ask your employer for more information.

Life Threatening Emergencies

Please note ambulance services are NOT covered under AHC. You will receive a bill for this cost unless cover is provided by extended health benefits.

Health Link Alberta – 811

A FREE telephone service providing 24/7 general health care advice.

When you dial 811 – you will be connected to a registered nurse. They can answer health questions and make appropriate health referrals. This service has access to the language line, where you can have interpretation services provided to you in your first language.

Claresholm General Hospital

Open 24 hours each day.

Emergency and non-emergency drop-in medical services

Waiting time may be more than 2 hours dependent on severity of your medical emergency.

OBTAINING AN ALBERTA HEALTH CARD (AHC)

Apply for your Alberta Health Care as quickly as possible. Please note you must intend to stay in Alberta for 12 months or longer and your permit must have at least 6 months on it. Alberta Health Care starts 3 months after you apply. Children under the age of 18 can be represented by their parents with proof of their documents.

Documents required to get an AHC:

Proof of identity (original documents only)
Passport, Confirmation of Permanent Residency or landing papers
Evidence of Alberta residency
Bank statement; or
Address verification provided by your bank.

You can apply to your nearest Alberta Registries office to get your Alberta Health Card (AHC)

Government of Alberta

Claresholm Registries

Nanton Registries

Alberta Health Care

For additional information please contact Alberta Health Care Directly

WHERE TO FIND A FAMILY DOCTOR

Many Canadians rely on a family doctor when they need medical care or need regular health checkups. Also known as a General Practitioner (GP), a family doctor addresses medical needs for you and your family and will also provide a referral if you need to see a specialist. Evening and weekend appointment are not offered by the Medical Health Clinic. If your health concern is immediate the hospital offers 24-hour emergency care.

If you need a doctor’s appointment you must call the Medical Clinic for this. If you are a new patient the receptionist will refer you to a doctor who is accepting new patients and to find an appointment that fits your schedule.

Keep note of the date and time of appointment as you do not receive a phone call to remind you.

If you are unable to keep the appointment, call and cancel 24-48 hours prior so another patient can have the appointment. Claresholm medical office may charge a no-show fee for not cancelling appointment.

If you are late for your doctor’s appointment it is not guaranteed that you will be seen that day. If you are very late, you may be required to re-book the appointment. If you miss the appointment, they may charge you a fee.
Show your Alberta Health Care Card to all health service providers (doctor, laboratory, hospital, dentist, etc.) If you have children, make sure you bring their card as well.

Claresholm Medical Centre

Offers Medical check-up and treats minor illness only.

Appointments must be made in advance, No drop-in services.

Open 8am-4pm weekdays, Closed on weekends and statutory holidays.

Medication and the Pharmacy

If you require medication, the doctor will write a prescription which you take to the pharmacy. The prescription contains information about the medicine, how to use it, when to use it and other important instructions. If you are required to take the medicine for an extended period, the prescription may provide “refills” at the pharmacy. The pharmacist will instruct you.

In Canada, there are two main classes of medications:

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs: These drugs can be legally purchased without prescription from a doctor.

Prescription drugs: These are drugs that are only meant for use by the person to whom they are prescribed. To access these drugs, you need a prescription from a doctor. You can have this filled at any pharmacy in Canada.

Claresholm Pharmacy

Pharmasave

Mental HEALTH AND WELLNESS

There are resources to support you when feeling mentally unwell, require grief counseling or just need someone to talk to. Please reach out to your family doctor for assistance.

Claresholm Mental Health Clinic

Services within this Clinic are offered to seniors, adults, and children 6 years and older by appointment only.

Video appointment with interpreters can be arranged.

Suicide Support

CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
24 hour, 7 days a week there is always someone to help.

CRISIS SERVICE CANADA

DISTRESS CENTRE

Claresholm Centre for Mental Health and Addictions- Outpatient Services

AADAC Landers Centre Claresholm

Alberta Alcohol & Drug Abuse Centre

Additional Adult Resources

GRIEF COUNSELING

Make an appointment at the medical centre for a referral.

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY INCOME SUPPORT

POISON CENTRE

Family Violence Prevention

ALBERTA’S RESOURCES TO PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

FAMILY VIOLENCE INFORMATION LINE

Toll free 24 hours and offered in many different languages.

ROWAN HOUSE SOCIETY

Shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Located in High river but provides outreach support to Claresholm.

Children’s support Services

KIDS HELP PHONE

CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE

BULLYING PREVENTION

Alberta 211

211 is an essential service that helps Albertans find the right resource or service for whatever issue they need help with, at the right time. 211 is available 24/7 by phone, text and chat. The service is free, confidential and available in over 170 languages over the phone.

Additional Health Services

Dentistry - Willow Creek Dental Clinic

Optometry - Claresholm Eye Care

Claresholm Community Health Unit

The Claresholm Health Unit offers a wide array of community health programs, including: home visits, immunizations, public health inspections, speech pathologist, senior’s wellness clinic, prenatal classes, and foot clinics.

Welcoming Claresholm

Additional Information

Relocation Guides