Primary Care Networks make it easy to find a doctor

Primary Care Networks offer a service to help people find a doctor near them

EDMONTON, Aug. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - There are over 800 family doctors accepting new patients across Alberta. Anyone looking for a family doctor can visit www.pcnpmo.ca/findadoctor to find one near them accepting new patients.

"Many people may be unsure of how to find a family physician in their local area and are not aware this resource was developed to help them," said Dr. Phillip van der Merwe, Calgary family doctor and co-chair Primary Care Network (PCN) Physician Lead Executive. "Primary Care Networks recognize the need to help people find a family doctor in their community and created this service to make those connections. It's never been easier to find a family doctor!"

According to a 2013 Statistics Canada report, 20 per cent of Albertans reported that they didn't have a family doctor. PCNs have made significant progress over the years by creating a service to assist people in finding a family doctor. That service expanded to include the rest of the province in early 2016.

PCNs created this service because access to the same family doctor builds a relationship for a healthy future. In fact, research shows that patients who regularly visit a family doctor are healthier and live longer.

In Alberta, most family doctors are members of PCNs. PCNs improve access to family doctors and strengthen the services offered at clinics.

Find your family doctor at www.pcnpmo.ca/findadoctor.

ABOUT 'FIND A PCN DOCTOR': The Calgary-area PCNs built the first 'Find a PCN doctor' service in 2010. Two years later, the Edmonton-area PCNs created their own version of the service. In early 2016, the remainder of the province joined in providing this service so Albertans all over the province can find a family doctor. The provincial service connects to the work happening in Primary Care Networks in the Calgary (www.calgaryareadocs.com) and Edmonton (www.edmontonareadocs.ca) areas.

ABOUT PRIMARY CARE NETWORKS: Primary Care Networks (PCNs) bring local physicians and other health care professionals together to provide comprehensive patient care to Albertans. PCNs develop local solutions to meet the needs of their local health issues. There are 42 PCNs in Alberta that provide care for about 3.3 million patients. For more information about PCNs, please visit www.pcnpmo.ca.

SOURCE Primary Care Network Program Management Office

Image with caption: "Primary Care Networks connect Albertans to family doctors. (CNW Group/Primary Care Network Program Management Office)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160823_C5858_PHOTO_EN_757317.jpg

or to schedule an interview, please contact: Alexis Caddy, Manager, Communications, Primary Care Networks Program Management Office, Telephone: [phone], Mobile: [phone], Email: [email protected]