About Primary Care Services
Primary care services (family medicine) at Rideau Community Health Services (RCHS) are delivered by a team of professionals with a strong focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and ongoing care. Team members include nurse practitioners, physicians, nurses, social workers, dietitians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and community health workers. Primary Care Programs are offered both at the Merrickville and Smiths Falls sites.
Our clinics provide a range of services to support your health needs, including:
- Point-of-care testing (e.g., strep, INR, urine testing)
- Publicly funded immunizations
- Ear assessments and ear flushing
- Allergy injections
- Tick bite assessment and prophylaxis
- Preventative screening
- Management of acute and chronic conditions
Do you need a primary care provider?
If you would like to become a primary care client of RCHS, please register with Health Care Connect (HCC) or at 1-800-445-1822.
After-Hours Care
If you are experiencing a medical emergency at any time, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Clients and community members may contact Health811 (formerly TeleHealth Ontario) for medical advice outside of normal business hours by dialing 811. Visit Health811's website for more information.
Please note: RCHS can offer same-day appointments during regular business hours for registered primary care clients experiencing acute or respiratory symptoms. Please contact the clinic during business hours to book an appointment.
Contact Information
- Merrickville Site: (613) 269-3400
- Smiths Falls Site: (613) 283-1952
Clinical Pharmacist
Our pharmacists work closely with you and your primary care team to ensure medications are used in a safe and effective manner. Services include medication reviews, drug information support, and counselling — particularly for individuals with chronic or complex conditions.
How to Access Services:
A referral from a primary care provider is required to access the clinical pharmacist.
RSV Vaccine
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common respiratory virus that can cause serious illness in some older adults and people at higher risk of complications.
A publicly funded RSV vaccine is available for registered Primary Care clients who are 75 and older. If would like to learn more about the vaccine or find out if it is recommended for you, please call our office or ask your Provider during your next appointment.
East Region Virtual Care Clinic
Ontario Health, in partnership with Durham Community Health Centre, offers a Nurse Practitioner-Led Virtual Care Clinic for individuals who do not have a primary care provider or who cannot access timely care for urgent medical concerns.
This services is available for issues such as:
- New or worsening cough, fever, rash, or other similar symptoms
- Urgent concerns that are not life-or-limb threatening
To learn more or to book an appointment visit: www.virtualcareontario.ca
ScribeBerry Medical Documentation
Some members of our team may use ScribeBerry, an AI-powered medical documentation tool, to support note-taking during appointments. This technology helps providers focus more on the conversation and less on administrative tasks.
Your provider will explain the use of ScribeBerry and seek your informed consent before using it during your appointment. Choosing not to consent will not affect your access to care or services.
To learn more about ScribeBerry and review our Frequently Asked Questions.