Vulcan and County Healthcare Workers Attraction and Retention

vulcanmedicalrecruitment.ca

If you are a physician looking for more detailed information on establishing a medical practice in Vulcan,  contact the Vulcan Medical Clinic, (403) 485-2216.

Dr. Jody Patrick, a pediatrician from Calgary, visits the Vulcan Medical Clinic every six weeks. Vulcan Medical Clinic patients need a referral from their physicians.

U of C medical students to take a trip to Vulcan County to learn about rural life, health care. Medical student to provide classmates with insight into rural life and health care by organizing a full day of learning for them. Read More

The physicians and staff at the Vulcan Medical Clinic are committed to excellence in patient care and clinical innovation. To quote Stephanie Crichton, Executive Director of Calgary Rural Primary Care Network (PCN), “The Vulcan Medical Clinic, through its physicians and allied health professional team, has been a leader in achieving these objectives. The Vulcan Medical Clinic has been early to adopt and succeed in our PCN’s screening maneuvers and provincial evaluation metrics.”

The Town of Vulcan conveniently located between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge. More importantly, however, the Vulcan Medical Clinic is situated within the confines of the Vulcan Community Health Centre.  The Vulcan Community Health Centre is a multipurpose facility. This centre has both long-term (15) and acute care (8) beds and is running at a 95% to 110% capacity.  The physicians’ medical clinic, X-Ray department, laboratory services, physiotherapy, mental health, community health department, and a six bed emergency department are also located in the Health Centre. Having immediate access to all departments makes for a superb work environment and enhances job satisfaction. Click on these links for more information on Vulcan County and the Town of Vulcan.

Partly because of our physical location but also as a commitment from our team, we have a great working relationship not only within our clinic, but with all of our Alberta Health Services partners located within the building.

The Physician’s practice is a general practice with extended skills to cover the hospital emergency room. Seventy percent of our time is devoted to general practice, twenty five percent to hospital and emergency room, and five percent to long-term care patients.

One physician is required to be ‘on-call’ 24 hours per day – 7 days a week in order to keep all of these facilities open. Typically a physician working in our clinic is required to be on call 1 in 4.

The medical clinic handles an average of 80 patients per day if there are four doctors available. The clinic normally has one physician designated as the “on-call” doctor. This physician treats walk-in patients as well as any patients requiring urgent care in the ER.

We are not working in isolation. Physicians have excellent external support with immediate access to specialists. In addition, our emergency services are facilitated by RAAPID (Referral, Access, Advice, Placement, Information, and Designation), STARS air ambulance, and by the ALS Emergency Medical Services provided by Alberta Health Service. The Vulcan Community Health Centre is well equipped to deal with most medical emergencies but we do not have an operating room nor do we do obstetrics.

Through the support of Alberta Health Services, Alberta Medical Association, the Town of Vulcan, and Vulcan County, we have a very low overhead structure for expenses.

Alberta Health Services Careers – Jobs

Vulcan Community Health Centre

The Vulcan Community Health Centre is a one stop shop for medical services for residents of Vulcan and Vulcan County. It houses a hospital with a 24/7 Emergency Room, 23 bed combined Acute/LTC unit, the Medical Clinic, Home Care and Public Health. In addition, it offers a full array of inpatient and outpatient services:

  • The Hospital is managed by the Site Manager with a Patient Care Coordinator directing the daily work force which includes:
  •  2 RNs, 1 LPN, and 2 HCAs available on the day and evening shifts.
  •  1 RN and 1 LPN on nights to cover the entire facility.
  • A second RN is on call for emergencies and the ambulance crew will respond to help in the ER if necessary.
  • We also employ unit clerks, registration staff and an administrative assistant.

Clinical Nurse Educator:

Our educator has a .6 FTE and  offers a wide range of relevant and current education to all the nursing disciplines in Emergency, Acute Care, and LTC including Emergency Labor and Delivery sessions, NRP, and ACLS.   She is responsible to ensure all nursing staff have a thorough orientation, on-going mandatory education as well as assisting the learner with personal development and other courses such as TNCC. She also helps arrange for continuing education for the medical staff when needed.

Vulcan Medical Clinic RN

  • A Primary Care RN works out of the Medical Clinic, which is located in the Vulcan Community Health Centre, Monday to Friday
  • The Primary Care RN works with complex care patients and those requiring Chronic disease management.
  • The RN works directly with these patients to provide counselling, education and treatment and is the Referral Clerk.
  • The Medical Clinic also employs an Office Manager, receptionist, and Medical Office Assistants.

  • Outpatient work is done from 0800-1700 Monday- Sunday but we have DI staff on site from 0800-2315 for ER and Acute patients and on call during the night..
  • We have a portable x-ray machine and all patients can be X-rayed on the emergency stretchers if they can’t be moved to the x-ray department.
  • Our Radiology Department provides 24 hour Holter ECG Monitors as well as 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
  • We employ x-ray technicians and CLXT’s.

  • This service provides a comprehensive range of routine and specialized lab testing and clinical consultation.
  • The lab is fully equipped and our technicians are able to do many tests on site.

Lab services available include:

  • blood and body fluid sample collection
  • biochemistry and toxicology
  • urinalysis
  • transfusion medicine
  • hematology
  • coagulation studies

Lab hours

  • Open for Out patients: 0830-1700 Monday-Friday
  • We have lab staff on site for ER and Acute patients from 0700-2300 and on call from 2300-0700.
  • We have staff on site on weekends from 0800-2300 and then on call.
  • Our staff includes Lab Technicians and CLXT’s.

  • Our physiotherapist and a physio assistant work Monday-Friday 0830 to 1630.
  • Our physio department is equipped with parallel bars, treadmill, stationary bike, stepper, wall pulleys, reciprocal pulleys, arm egonometer, free weights, and treatment mat.
  • Wheelchair assessments can be done on uncomplicated clients and lower leg assessments are offered.
  • The PT is an AADL authorizer

  • We have OT services in the hospital 2 days/week and there is also a community based OT available 2 days/week.
  • The OT offers cognitive assessments, swallowing assessments, home assessments and lower leg assessments.
  • The OT also fits clients with home adaptive equipment.

REHABILITATION SERVICES ( Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy) now occupy an more spacious area on the main floor of the new addition.

  • We have a recreation therapist in a 0.5 FTE and a recreation assistant in a 0.63 FTE.
  • Their services and programs are focused on our long-term care population.

  • A respiratory therapist comes in weekly for Pulmonary Function Tests.
  • Outpatients are referred through your doctor.
  • Referrals are available for inpatients as well.

  • The Vulcan Community Health Centre has a pharmacist onsite 3 days a week as well as a pharmacy assistant onsite 3 hours per day. Among their other duties, the pharmacist provides clinical counselling to inpatients
  • There is always a pharmacist on 24 hours call.
  • Pharmacists in the two drug stores in the Town of Vulcan fill prescriptions Monday to Saturday 0900 to 1800.
  • We have a site-specific hospital formulary which physicians can access from any of the RNs.
  • We also have access to the Calgary Health Region formulary.
  • There is also a Pharmacy in the Village of Arrowwood.

  • Health Records is staffed Monday to Friday 0800 to 1630.

  • We have a mental health clinician available most weekdays covering a variety of hours. The hospital receptionist has a schedule of her hours.
  • She is a Registered Social Worker.
  • This individual provides assessment and counselling for a wide variety of conditions and addictions, as well as financial assistance and counselling.
  • As a registered social worker, this individual takes self referrals was well as referrals from other health care providers.
  • Counselling services include smoking cessation, grief support, alcohol and drug addictions, financial planning, dealing with depression, coping skills,  and advanced care planning.

  • A psychiatrist service can be accessed
  • Appointments are booked through the medical clinic.

  • A consulting geriatrician is on site every other month or she is available for phone consults.
  • Referrals are made by the family doctor and appointments are booked through the medical clinic.

  • The dietitian is available in Vulcan 2 days/week.
  • She consults with our Acute and LTC patients and see Outpatients on an appointment basis
  • She will take doctor referrals and self referrals
  • Appointments are booked through the Hospital Registration Desk 403-485-3333

  • Staff are trained in the latest Palliative Care treatments
  • We have next day access to the Calgary Region’s Palliative Care Team for consults
  • We have a dedicated space within the hosptial for Palliative Care patients.

  • Based out the Community Health Centre, Home care provides nursing assessments, bath help, medication assistance, and dressing changes to those residing in the community
  • We employ RN’s, LPN’s, and HCA’s who are certified.
  • We also employ a Community Social worker.
  • We run an Adult Day Support Program out of our new addition.

  • We provide health education to school populations, immunization clinics to the general public, newborn and postpartum assessments, well baby clinics and a variety of public health education to the general public
  • We employ Registered Nurses

  • The VCHC Ladies Auxiliary provides a retail outlet service with clothes, personal care essentials and gifts.
  • It’s located in the foyer adjacent to the Nursing Station and is open Mon-Wed-Fri 1000-1500.
  • It is run by Volunteers from the Auxiliary
  • Vulcan Community Health Centre also utilizes volunteers in the Recreational Therapy program.

  • Maintenance Workers
  • Dietary/ Food Services Workers
  • Environmental Services Staff (Housekeeping).

Rural Health in Action: A Community Effort in Vulcan

On March 14–15, 2026, medical and healthcare students from the University of Calgary and SAIT experienced firsthand what rural healthcare and rural community life in Vulcan County are all about.

From hands-on learning alongside local physicians and healthcare staff, to connecting with community members and experiencing local hospitality, students were welcomed into a setting that reflects the very best of rural practice.

This experience was made possible through the leadership of the Vulcan Medical Attraction and Retention Committee, whose ongoing work continues to highlight the strength, opportunity, and deep sense of community that defines healthcare in Vulcan.

Equally important is the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and healthcare teams, who not only provide exceptional care every day but also take the time to mentor, teach, and inspire those considering a future in rural medicine.

And, as always, our broader community showed up—through volunteers, local organizations, and partners, including the Little Bow Hutterian Colony, creating a welcoming and authentic experience that cannot be replicated in an urban setting.

While the VCHW Foundation was not involved in this event, it is worth noting that community-supported investments in spaces and simulation equipment continue to support hands-on learning opportunities like these within our local healthcare environment.

This is what rural health looks like in action: leadership, collaboration, and a community that stands behind its healthcare teams and future providers.

See the Photos HERE.

The Vulcan Medical Attraction and Retention Committee partnered with RHPAP ( Alberta’s Rural Health Profession Action Plan) and our incredible staff and physicians to host this fantastic day for high school students in Vulcan County at the Vulcan Community Health Centre.

The Staff at the Vulcan Community Health Centre is using the Wellness Space for ongoing training. And would like the community to know how thankful they are. 

ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) took place in the wellness centre on Tuesday January 26, 2021. The staff was covering IOs at this station (intraosseous – drilling into the bone when no IV access).  We do this often in cardiac compromised patients and trauma patients. Staff are able to spread out during class content and then can come together for skills station. Host a Let’s Go Rural! – High School Event!

Vulcan Medical Recruitment