Community Health Centres (CHCs) offer a range of primary health care and health promotion programs to the diverse communities in and around Merrickville and Smiths Falls. Services at CHCs in Smiths Falls and Merrickville and indeed across Ontario are organized to make it easy for people facing barriers to get the help they need. Barriers such as transportation, poverty, racism, homophobia, or disabilities can get in the way of people accessing good health care. With this in mind, both the Smiths Falls and Merrickville CHCs offer the services of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, and health promotion workers to registered clients. Some services like walking groups, help with quitting smoking, or community gardens are offered to the general public.

We are striving to serve you better!

Introducing a new way to schedule your appointments:

In the past, Merrickville District Community Health Centre used a more traditional way of booking appointments. This worked well most of the time, but you may have had to wait too long for an appointment.

On March 1, 2017 we’re introducing a new method of booking appointments. This way of booking is a best practice across Canada. It’s called Open Access.

The goal of Open Access is to allow you to see a doctor or nurse practitioner when you call to book an appointment. Appointments are kept “open” for a two week period instead of being filled weeks or months in advance.

How Open Access will better meet your needs:

• You will be able to see a Primary Care Provider more quickly when you have a medical issue.
• Our hope is to provide you the care you need, and avoid the need for you to be seen at the Emergency Department.

How do I book an appointment?

• If you have any new medical issue, just call our office: 613-269-3400
• When you call to book your appointment we will schedule an appointment on a day that works within the next two weeks with a doctor or nurse practitioner.
• After each visit, you will NOT be scheduled for your next appointment months in advance.
• You WILL be given a reminder card that will tell you when to call to book your next appointment.
• Keep this card in a safe place so you will remember when to call to book your next appointment.
• For urgent medical issues you will be seen as soon as possible, but it may not be with your assigned doctor or nurse practitioner.

We hope that you will notice the benefits of an Open Access office.

You can call our number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for on call phone support.
613-269-3400

Click here for a pdf version of this announcement.

RCHS is supported by the South East Local Health Integration Network