Located just off Main Street in Carstairs, Alberta, Snowy Owl Medical Clinic is built around one goal: to be the best clinic in Alberta. We are committed to providing a supportive environment for physicians, a trusted home for patients, and care grounded in the Patient's Medical Home model.

 

We value evidenced-based medicine, medical education, and creating a clinic culture where both patients and staff feel welcomed and accepted.

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Although Carstairs is a rural community, it is an easy commute from Calgary (approximately 35-45 minutes depending on the location in Calgary).. Several of our physicians and staff live in Calgary and commute. With a rapidly growing population, Carstairs has an immediate need for family physicians -- unlike Airdrie or Calgary, where dozens to hundreds of doctors are accepting new patients.

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Information for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

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Healthcare in Canada is administered provincially. In Alberta:

• Most outpatient clinics in Alberta are privately owned (including Snowy Owl Medical Clinic).

• Hospitals, emergency departments, urgent care centres, and laboratories are provincially operated.

• Diagnostic imaging (radiology) may be hospital-based or privately operated (eg. Mayfair, EFW, PureForm, MIC).

• Most residents are insured through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), which covers physician services, labs, imaging, and hospital stays.

• True private-pay medicine is uncommon in Alberta.

 

Most physicians in Alberta, including at our clinic, bill the province through AHCIP for each patient they see. Our clinic operates on an overhead model where a percentage of physician billings ("overhead") supports clinic expenses, including staff salaries, rent, medical supplies, electronic medical record (EMR) systems, and utilities. Snowy Owl Medical Clinic offers a highly competitive overhead rate.

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Physician Compensation in Alberta

 

As of April 2025, Alberta introduced an optional payment model for family physicians / G.P.s: the Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM).  Physicians with panels of more than 500 patients are eligible.

 

There are currently two compensation structures available for family physicians:

1. Fee for service (FFS): The traditional "see a patient, bill for the encounter" model.

2. PCPCM: The new, blended model with three revenue streams:​​

• Fee-for-service billing per encounter​ (reduced from traditional model).

• Hourly compensation (including charting and indirect patient care).

• Monthly panel payments based on roster size and patient complexity.

 

Under the PCPCM, estimated annual take-home income (after overhead) typically ranges from $250,000 to $550,000, depending on hours worked and patient volume. For example (assuming a full patient panel):

• 4 days/week with <15 patients/day: lower end

• 5-6 days/week with ~30 patients/day: higher end

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While demand for family physicians in Carstairs is high, building a full panel depends on availability, reputation, and trust. Snowy Owl Medical Clinic supports physicians through advertising, walk-in availability, and community outreach. Many physicians who are available and well-received in the community reach a 500-patient panel within approximately 4-6 months.

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Practice Environment

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As a clinic designed to support physicians so they can focus on patient care, Snowy Owl Medical Clinic is a fantastic place to establish your family practice. Clinic support varies significantly across Alberta: overhead rates may be similar, but administrative and operational support can differ widely. We prioritize strong staffing, efficient systems, and a collaborative culture.

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Medicine can be demanding. Our goal is to create a practice environment where physicians feel supported, respected, and able to do their best work.​​

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We invite you to visit, meet our team, and take a tour of our clinic to experience our culture first-hand. Our clinicians often call Snowy Owl Medical Clinic "the best clinic in Alberta," and we think you'll see why. ​If you share our commitment to compassionate, patient-centred care, we would love to hear from you.

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Email us at jointheteam@snowyowlclinic.com to learn more or schedule a visit.​