Finding a family doctor who is accepting new patients in Canada can be a challenging task, especially in regions where there is high demand for primary care services. However, with perseverance and strategic searching, you can increase your chances of securing a healthcare provider who meets your needs, especially if you’ve just arrived in the country. Don’t go in blind — here’s a checklist you can use to cover all your bases.

Finding Family Doctors Accepting New Patients in Canada

Here are some steps to help you in your search:

1. Check Online Directories

Start your search by consulting online directories that list family doctors accepting new patients. Websites like HealthLink BC (for British Columbia), Ontario Health Care Connect (for Ontario), and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (for Alberta) provide searchable databases of healthcare providers.

2. Contact Local Health Authorities

Reach out to your local health authority or regional health authority for assistance in finding a family doctor. They may have resources or programs in place to help residents connect with primary care providers who are accepting new patients.

3. Ask for Referrals

Seek recommendations from friends, family members, or colleagues who may already have a family doctor. They may be able to provide insights or referrals to healthcare providers who are currently accepting new patients or who may soon be opening their practice to new registrations.

4. Utilize Community Health Centers

Community health centers or clinics often have a team of healthcare providers, including family doctors, who serve the local population. Contact these centers to inquire about their availability and whether they are accepting new patients.

5. Visit Walk-in Clinics

While walk-in clinics do not typically offer continuity of care like a family doctor would, they can provide interim healthcare services while you search for a primary care provider. Additionally, staff at walk-in clinics may be able to provide information on family doctors in the area who are accepting new patients.

6. Join Waitlist Programs

Finding a family doctor who can attend to your needs may take some time, so joining waitlist programs would be a good move. Here are some options depending on where you are around Canada:

• Alberta: Try looking through the following tools:
  • Primary Care Network’s Find a Family Doctor tool. 
  • College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta’s Find a Physician tool
  • HealthLink Alberta
• Manitoba: Register on the provincial government’s Family Doctor Finder.
• New Brunswick: The province has a registry called Patient Connect.
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Patients can search a list of available family physicians in the area.
• Northwest Territories: A list of physicians in the Northwest Territories can be found here and clinics can be contacted individually. 
• Nova Scotia: You can either register and enter the waitlist with the Need a Family Practice Registry, or call 811 for assistance. 
• Nunavut: The territory’s Department of Health provides contact numbers and a map to health-care services where family physicians can be found.
• Ontario: Use Health Care Connect to be put on a waitlist to find a doctor. They can also use the doctor search tool on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario website. 
• Prince Edward Island: Join the waitlist on the Provincial Patient Registry.
• Quebec: The provincial government has a waitlist where patients can register. They can also register over the phone.
• Saskatchewan: The Saskatchewan Health Authority and the The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan will have a list of physicians who are available. 
• Yukon: The territory has a match service for patients needing a family doctor. 

7. Be Persistent

Finding a family doctor accepting new patients may require persistence and patience. Keep checking online directories, reaching out to local resources, and networking within your community. Opportunities may arise unexpectedly, so it’s important to stay proactive in your search.

8. Consider Telemedicine

In some cases, telemedicine services may be available as an interim solution while you search for a family doctor. Virtual healthcare platforms connect patients with licensed healthcare providers for consultations, diagnoses, and treatment plans.

Navigating the search for a family doctor accepting new patients in Canada requires diligence, resourcefulness, and perseverance. The first person who will prioritize your wellbeing is you. Advocate for yourself in accessing timely and comprehensive healthcare services, and watch everything else fall into place.