Empowering the Citizen Patient: Accessing care without a family doctor

In this, the ninth of our Empowering the Citizen patient series, Dr. Mindy Smith, a retired family physician and now a member of the Patient Advisory Committee and Community in the Kootenay Boundary, shares insights and resources for unattached patients — those without a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Dr. Smith emphasizes the challenges faced by rural communities and the importance of utilizing available resources to ensure comprehensive healthcare.

As a retired family physician and member of our community, I have witnessed firsthand the difficulties many face in accessing consistent and reliable healthcare. These challenges are not unique to our region, but are prevalent across Canada. Provider shortages, long wait times and limited access to health services can leave many without a primary care provider.

For those of us in rural areas like Kootenay Boundary (KB), these issues are often magnified. We may live hours away from the nearest healthcare facility or face long appointment waits. These challenges can be daunting, but it’s crucial to remember that there are resources and support systems available to help us navigate these difficulties so that we receive the care and support needed to maintain our health and well-being.

Register with Kootenay Boundary’s Health Connect Registry

The Health Connect Registry is the most efficient way to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner in the region. Once registered, you’ll be contacted directly when a primary care provider is available.

Patients who self-identify as Indigenous are encouraged to reach out to the Circle of Indigenous Nations Society ( 1-877-904-2634) to reach an aboriginal health co-ordinator or the Aboriginal Patient Navigator who provide culturally based supports, accompaniment and health-system advocacy. Some excellent health resources can be found on the www.kbculturalsafety.org/patients website.  

Prioritizing access to care

Ensuring access to healthcare is a priority at all levels of government and local groups such as the KB Collaborative Services Committee, Divisions of Family Practice, and the Primary Care Network Steering Committee who are actively working to address this issue. The KB Division of Family Practice offers a list of supports for unattached patients, which can be found at

Virtual and in-person care options

For less urgent health care needs, start by calling 2-1-1 (bc.211.ca). This service, operated by United Way BC Helpline Services, connects people to community, government, and social services, offering assistance with basic needs, mental-health support, legal and financial help, and support for seniors and newcomers to the region. For health advice, call 8-1-1 to speak to a health service navigator.

Locally, in-person urgent care is available at Castlegar Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) by phoning to book an appointment at 250-304-1289 (open 8 a.m.–8 p.m., seven days a week). Patients can also access physiotherapy and social work services at the UPCC through self-referral, which may be covered by MSP.

To attach patients with no clinician support in the Lower Columbia region, a community-owned non-profit clinic with team-based care encompassing a range of healthcare professionals is projected to open in 2025 ( A new episodic care clinic, with both virtual and in-person components is also being developed to serve the Kootenay Boundary region. Stay tuned for the news on this initiative!

First Nations people living in B.C. can also book virtual appointments with the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day, or by calling 1-855-344-3800 (Available seven days a week, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). 

Other province-wide virtual care options covered by B.C. MSP include:

Telus My Health

TIA Health

Maple

For urgent mental-health support, call:

Suicide crisis: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Mental-health issues: 310-6789 (24 hours)

KUU-US Aboriginal crisis line: 1-800-588-8717 (24 hours)

Patients can now also go to their pharmacist who can diagnose and prescribe medications for 21 minor ailments and contraception. Visit the B.C. government website for more information and links to KB pharmacies participating in the initiative.

The KBScreen.ca service is available for unattached KB residents to receive preventive screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers; aortic aneurysm; and HIV/syphilis screening. Residents must be registered for the Medical Services Plan, be over age 40 years, and are not having any symptoms. Contact them at KBScreen.ca or call 1-778-364-0717 (Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.).

And of course, for emergencies, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency department, a full list of which can be found at

Building your health-care team

Creating a personal health-care team can help ensure you receive comprehensive care. 

One PACC member shares, “Being an amputee and cancer survivor, my ‘team’ includes a nurse practitioner, chiropractor, prosthetist, oncologist, dentist, optometrist, and my partner and daughter who can take me to health-care visits and provide support. Having a team with diverse skills ensures that I stay healthy and supported.”

Additional team members might include a pharmacist, social worker, physical or occupational therapist, psychologist, massage therapist, aboriginal health co-ordinator, or registered dietician.

We hope these resources are helpful, especially for those of you who currently don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner. If you find a resource is no longer available or discover a new one, please let the PACC team know at [email protected]. Together, as patients, partners, health professionals, we can continue to work together to support and improve our health-care system.