The Elkford Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) has been providing urgent and same day primary care to folks close to home for six months now.
The UPCC is estimated to have helped 1,500 people in Elkford and surrounding areas get primary care since it opened in May of 2025.
“For people in the Elk Valley, getting health care can mean long drives and tough winter travel. The Elkford UPCC helps make sure residents can get timely, urgent primary care closer to home, without having to leave the valley,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health.
“It’s about recognizing the realities of rural life and making care more accessible for people who live and work here,” Osborne added.
Elkford UPCC has hired 6.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff as of December 2025.
Once the centre is fully functioning the team will include about 8.75 FTE healthcare workers, including family doctors, nurses, a nurse practitioner, social worker, physiotherapist, Indigenous patient navigator, and medical leadership.
A new family physician is expected to join the Elkford UPCC in March of this year.
The UPCC in Elkford offers better care options for people in rural BC, as patients can access care with or without a family doctor, through booked appointments, walk-ins, or virtual visits.
In person appointments at the UPCC can be booked by calling 250-865-2247.
“By bringing UPCC services into the Elkford Health Centre, residents can count on timely care from a dedicated team of primary care providers and allied health professionals right in their community,” said Sylvia Weir, president and CEO of Interior Health.
This kind of care centre is efficient for people with health care needs that can be treated within 12 to 24 hours, but doesn’t require an emergency department, such as cuts, sprains, high fevers, and minor infections.
“With daily hours, seven days a week, people can rely on support for a range of health concerns and urgent needs,” Weir added.
The Elkford UPCC is Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends and statutory holidays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Elkford UPCC is part of B.C.’s Primary Care Strategy. The care centre received $75,000 in start-up funding and will see nearly $2 million in operating funding annually from the Ministry of Health.
The total project cost is $475,000, with $285,000 in funding from the Ministry of Infrastructure and $190,000 from the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District.
“The Kootenay East Regional Hospital District is pleased to assist in bringing UPCC services into the Elkford Health Centre. Having same-day access available for care is vital to residents, and this team-based approach supports the quality of care and life for residents in the area,” said David Wilks, chair of Kootenay East Regional Hospital District.
With the addition of the Elkford UPCC, there are now 42 open UPCCs in the province operating and providing care under the government’s Primary Care Strategy.
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