Prince George Urgent and Primary Care Centre

Address

143, 1600-15th Avenue (Parkwood Place between Michael’s Jewellers and Mucho Burrito)
Prince George BC V2L 3X3
Canada

Phone

250-645-6900

Fax

250-645-7941

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Additional information

Hours and contact info

Effective December 8, 2024, the new hours for the UPCC are as follows:

Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, 9 am to 5 pm
Closed Christmas Day

Patients can see a nurse during these hours and physicians/nurse practitioners will be available on a variable basis throughout these hours.

Phone: 250-645-6900
Fax: 250-645-7941

What should patients expect when visiting the UPCC?

UPCC patients will be registered on arrival and be triaged by a nurse; patients will be seen in order of urgency, not in order of arrival.

Depending on a patient’s needs, they may be seen the same day by a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, or other health professional that day, or be sent to the UHNBC emergency department.

Some appointments will be provided remotely by teleconference and/or videoconference.

Some patients may be booked for an appointment the following day or referred to see their family physician, pharmacist, or other community resource.

The urgent and primary care centre can respond if you have an urgent mental health and/or substance use concern. We will coordinate appointments to mental health and substance use clinicians and primary care nurses as needed. These appointments will be for managing your immediate needs and connecting you back to your regular health care team.

What is the PG UPCC?

Urgent and primary care centres (UPCCs) provide access to same-day, urgent, non-emergency health care. UPCCs are often open evenings, weekends, and statutory holidays (actual hours vary by clinic). UPCCs are an alternative to visiting the hospital for issues that don’t require emergency care.

Patients who require medical attention within 12 to 24 hours can receive care at UPCCs for conditions such as:

High fevers
Sprains and strains caused by minor accidents and falls
Minor bleeding or cuts that require stitches
Minor burns that may require care
Mild to moderate breathing difficulty or asthma attacks
Sinus, oral or lung infections
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation
Skin conditions such as rashes or infections
Minor allergic reactions
Pain or burning when urinating
Non-severe new or worsening pain
New or worsening mental health concerns

This list is not exhaustive, and whether a UPCC is appropriate will depend on your specific situation.

The PG UPCC is not an emergency room and cannot treat patients with serious illnesses or injuries such as broken bones, chest pain or head injuries.

If you have a serious condition that requires immediate care, visit the UHNBC emergency room or call 9-1-1 (or local emergency services in your community).

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I should go to the UPCC or to the Emergency Department?

The PG UPCC is not an emergency room and cannot treat patients with serious illnesses or injuries such as broken bones, chest pain or head injuries.
A visit to the UPCC is appropriate if you have an illness or injury that needs to be looked at within 12 to 24 hours but isn’t an emergency.
The UHNBC emergency department tends to patients who have experienced a sudden and/or unusual change in their health; including (but not limited to) breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or pain, broken bones, chest pain, suspected overdoses, and eye injuries.
If you are having a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 for transport to the appropriate facility for care.
If you are unsure, call 8-1-1 to speak with a nurse before leaving home.

Will I still need to line up before the UPCC opens? Will patients still be turned away if all appointments are full?

No, you do not need to line up before the UPCC opens. Every effort will continue to be made to get people inside, registered, and triaged as quickly as possible.
As patients are scheduled for same day or next day appointments, or referred to other resources, the expectation is that line ups outside the clinic will be greatly reduced or eliminated over time.
There may be some temporary capacity challenges in the beginning as staff, providers and the public adjust to the new service model, and we ask for your patience.
We are confident this new model will result in an overall better patient experience and will ensure everyone is seen according to their urgency.

What is triage, how will it work, and how is it different from how the UPCC has operated in the past?

Previously, the UPCC structured appointments on a walk-in, or first-come, first-served basis.
Triage is a system used to sort patients according to their medical condition or care needs. It helps make sure the patients with the most urgent needs are seen as soon as possible. This is the same system used in the emergency department.
The UPCC will use a nursing decision support tool to help assess patients and determine the most appropriate care pathway, which will help get the patient to the right care at the right time.
People will be seen based on urgency going forward, not first in line.
- Depending on the patient’s needs, they may be seen the same day by a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, or other health professional that day or be sent to the UHNBC emergency department.
- Some patients may be booked for an appointment the following day or referred to see their family physician, pharmacist, or another community resource.
- The tool will initially be used for in-person assessments, and in future will include virtual (phone) assessments with a goal of helping to reduce or eliminate line ups outside the clinic.