Primary Care Network – Golden is about to see a major shift in how health care is delivered, with the introduction of a new Primary Care Network (PCN) aimed at improving access to care and ensuring that patients receive the right support from the right provider at the right time.
Backed by Interior Health and developed in partnership with local physicians, Indigenous nations, and community representatives, the new PCN is part of a region-wide initiative to integrate services and provide team-based care that puts patients at the center.
At its core, a Primary Care Network is not a single clinic or building, but a network—a formal collaboration of care providers including physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, dietitians, physiotherapists, mental health clinicians, pharmacists, and others, all working together. What sets this model apart is the sharing of information and coordination among the team, ensuring seamless care that is accessible and personalized.
Dr. Allison Clare gave a brief presentation at the Golden Seniors’ Centre on Thursday, May 22, 2025, providing an overview of what people can expect.
Instead of the traditional “get sick, see the doctor, get a prescription” model, the PCN aims to address overall wellness. Patients will be able to access a broader range of care services—often seeing multiple providers in one visit—and get support tailored to their individual health needs. For example, someone struggling with anxiety and chronic pain might see both a mental wellness clinician and a physiotherapist through the PCN, with both professionals collaborating on the best care plan.
This is about surrounding the patient with the right team, says Interior Health. It means a person can go to their local clinic and see the person best suited to help them, or more than one person, without having to navigate the system alone.
Importantly, the PCN will also help connect patients who don’t currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner. By assigning individuals to a team of providers, the network becomes one familiar and trusted source of care, reducing the gaps that often exist for patients in rural communities.
In Golden, the PCN will work closely with existing facilities such as the Golden Medical Clinic and the Golden & District Hospital, expanding on the services already offered there. Local services will include social work support, mental health care, physiotherapy, and nutritional counseling through registered dietitians.
The development of PCN’s has been a collaborative process across the region, designed with input from residents and care providers in the community.
Steering committees have included not just medical professionals but also patient advocates and representatives from Indigenous communities, ensuring that the model is culturally safe and truly reflects the needs of the population it serves.
Win Mott, a West Kootenay patient representative involved in the planning process, noted that the PCN “opens a door to a whole lot more care than just seeing a doctor.” And that’s exactly the point: this isn’t just about healthcare access, it’s about wellness—body, mind, and community.
PCNs are already in place in parts of the Kootenay Boundary, South Okanagan Similkameen, East Kootenay, Central Okanagan, and the Cariboo, with more planned across the province.
Interior Health hopes the Primary Care Network will help alleviate strain on emergency services, improve chronic disease management, and build long-term relationships between care teams and patients.
What will it look like in Golden?
A Primary Care Network is a collaborative model that brings together family physicians, registered nurses, allied health professionals, and community organizations to deliver team-based care tailored to the specific needs of the community.
In Golden, the PCN will operate under the East Kootenay Primary Care Network (EKPCN), ensuring residents have a consistent “home base” for their everyday healthcare needs.
The Golden PCN will offer a range of services, including (but not limited to):
• Social Work Support: Assistance with housing, food security, mental health concerns, and connecting individuals to appropriate community services.
• Mental Wellness Clinicians: Support for individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health and substance use conditions, including depression and anxiety.
• Physiotherapy: Rehabilitation services for individuals affected by aging, disease, injury, or other health conditions.
• Registered Dietitians: Nutritional support for managing chronic diseases, digestive issues, food allergies, and promoting healthy eating across all ages.
• Maternity: Golden Maternity is a collaborative care team made up of multiple physicians and one midwife who work together to support patients throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
During your prenatal care, you’ll meet with various members of the team through individual, group, or telehealth visits, with flexible scheduling and occasional home visits. The providers share an on-call rotation for deliveries at Golden and District Hospital to ensure continuous support.
After birth, care continues both in-office and at home until your baby is eight weeks old, with additional support from a public health nurse. Ongoing care is then transitioned to your family doctor, or you may choose one if you don’t have one already. Patient feedback is encouraged through a postpartum evaluation form to help improve services.
These services aim to provide holistic care, addressing both physical and mental health needs within the community. As needs change within the community, the services will continue to evolve.
Integration with Existing Healthcare Facilities
The PCN will primarily be located at the new Riverstone District building at 901 7th Street N. and will complement existing services at the Golden Medical Clinic and Golden & District Hospital, both located at 835 9th Avenue South. These facilities offer a variety of services, including community nursing, rehabilitation, maternity care, emergency services, and more.
Community Engagement and Future Developments
The establishment of the PCN in Golden reflects a broader commitment by Interior Health to enhance primary care services across the region, ensuring that residents have access to timely, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate healthcare.
For more information about the Golden Primary Care Network and the services it offers, visit the East Kootenay Primary Care Network website at www.ekpcn.ca/communities/golden.
