Finding Primary Care in Ottawa

Primary Care Clinics Accepting Patients in Ottawa

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The Ottawa Student Primary Care Access Outreach (OSPAO) initiative has created a resource to help Ottawa residents find primary care.

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Their website provides an updated list of primary care clinics in Ottawa that may be accepting new patients, along with information to help you contact or register with individual clinics.

Because clinic availability can change, always contact the clinic or visit its website to confirm that it is currently accepting new patients.

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Find Primary Care Clinics in Ottawa

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Register with Health Care Connect

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Health Care Connect is an Ontario government program that helps people who do not have a primary care provider find a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or primary care team accepting new patients in their community.

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You can register online or call 811, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will need a valid Ontario health card and up-to-date contact information. Once registered, a Care Connector will work to find a primary care provider who may be able to take you on as a patient.

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Registering does not guarantee that a provider will be available immediately, so you can continue exploring other options while you wait.

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Register with Health Care Connect

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Search for Family Doctors Directly

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The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) Physician Register allows you to search for family physicians by location and find their contact information.

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The register does not indicate whether a physician is accepting new patients, so you will need to contact individual clinics to ask about availability. CPSO recommends using its Advanced Search to search by city, town, or postal code and narrow the results to family doctors if desired.

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Search the CPSO Physician Register

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Explore Community-Based Primary Care

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You can also contact Community Health Centres, Family Health Teams, and Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics in your area.

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These services provide primary care through teams that may include family doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals. Eligibility and how patients are accepted can vary between organizations.

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Some Community Health Centres serve specific neighbourhoods or populations, so contact the centre directly to find out whether you are eligible and whether they are accepting new patients.

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While You Are Waiting for a Primary Care Provider

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If you have not yet found a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can still access healthcare when you need it.

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For non-emergency health concerns, Health811 can provide health advice and help you identify appropriate health services in your area.

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You may also be able to access walk-in clinics, community clinics, or other local services depending on your healthcare needs.

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If you or your baby has symptoms that may require urgent or emergency care, do not wait until you find a primary care provider before seeking medical attention.

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Tips for Finding a Provider

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• Register with Health Care Connect even if you are also searching independently.

• Check the Ottawa primary care clinic list regularly, as availability can change.

• Contact clinics directly to ask whether they are accepting new patients or maintaining a waitlist.

• Consider family doctors, nurse practitioners, and team-based primary care practices.

• If a clinic is not currently accepting patients, ask whether they expect openings or have a waitlist.

• Keep your contact information with Health Care Connect up to date while you wait.

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Need Help Finding Care?

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Start with the Ottawa Student Primary Care Access Outreach clinic list to see which Ottawa clinics may currently be accepting patients, and register with Health Care Connect to increase your chances of being connected with ongoing primary care.