The Town of Blackfalds is getting a second health clinic to the community.The Apollo Health Centre is now open on the north end of Broadway Avenue.

Until now, Blackfalds residents’ had limited options to find a local family practice, forcing many families to seek health care outside of the community.

Due to this shortfall of local quality health care, members of Council, Administration, and the community formed the Blackfalds Health Practitioners Attraction and Retention Committee (BHPARC) in 2020 and took various steps to attract health organizations and practitioners by promoting Blackfalds as the ideal location to set up a practice.

Dr. Muti Kauchali, the clinic’s founder, said that the medical care provided will be “full spectrum,” ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics; however, they are still waiting for full-time doctors to join, so operating times will vary during the early months after the clinic opens.

“To assist with recruitment and retention, we have teamed up with BHPARC who are diligently helping us with recruitment,” Kauchali explained. “They have set up some incentives for doctors to move into Blackfalds as part of the retention plan.”

New patients can pick up registration forms at the clinic as of August 30 and drop them off, which will be followed up by a phone meet and greet. Kauchali described that patients 60 years of age and older may meet in person starting the week of September 6, and they will then open up for patients of all ages.

Blackfalds Town Councillor Rebecca Stendie, who is a member of BHPARC, is truly excited to see another health centre in Blackfalds and has been advocating for this cause since her tenure on Council.

“Being able to access healthcare services in your home community in a timely fashion is something every community strives to be able to provide, and this new clinic/pharmacy is a welcome addition for Blackfalds,” she added. “I'm thrilled to have been a part of the team that is the BHPARC. It always amazes me how well our community pulls together to get things done when they see a need, and this was definitely a need.” 

“We will be operating Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00 pm. [I] will be the main physician working here Mon/Wed/Fri and some Saturdays. [I] will be assisted by locum doctors on other days,” Kauchali said.  

**with information from The Town of Blackfalds