Opening, building or renovating a medical clinic
Opening a medical clinic in Alberta is more than picking paint colours and welcoming patients. When opening, building or renovating a medical clinic, not only do you have to consider building codes and guidelines for health facilities, you also need to consider the professional expectations of physicians working at the clinic, put policies in place to protect patient privacy and ensure safe, high-quality and patient-centered care at every interaction.
This page contains resources meant for medical clinics in Alberta that don’t require accreditation and is a useful reference for construction and design teams, physician and non-physician clinic owners, managers and staff.
Below is a stage-by-stage guide to help you on the journey to opening the doors of your medical clinic in Alberta, taking into account the various elements you’ll need to keep in mind as you work towards welcoming your first patient and beyond. The process of opening a clinic is complex and multi-faceted. While this is not a complete list or roadmap, it’s a helpful starting point for many of the components involved with opening a medical clinic. Clinics must also consider others elements of clinic operations, including but not limited to governance, finance, information technology, security and privacy, and human resources.
Anyone can open and/or own a medical clinic in Alberta, but physicians are responsible for the practice of medicine within a clinic as outlined in our Responsibility for a Medical Practice standard. A physician’s medical practice cannot be delegated or owned by anyone other than the physician.
Stages of opening, building or renovating a medical clinic
Stage 1: Building or renovating a clinic
The first stage of opening or renovating a medical clinic in Alberta focuses on everything related to the structural requirements of your clinic as well as certain administrative considerations. This includes specifications for exam and waiting rooms, furniture, medical device reprocessing (MDR) and storage areas, and hand hygiene stations, among others.
Construction – making sure your clinic is up to code and has the right tools to operate:
- Contact the municipality where your clinic will be to review bylaws and building codes
- Review and understand the following documents:
- CPSA Bylaws (CPSA)
- IPAC program guidelines on Renovating or Developing New Clinical Office Space (CPSA)
- Medical Device Reprocessing Area – Suggested Layout (CPSA)
- Government of Alberta – Infrastructure: Technical Design Requirements for Health Care Facilities
- Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard Z8000-18 on Canadian health care facilities (Available via purchase or subscription through CSA)
CPSA’s Standards of Practice – ensure you’re aware of CPSA’s minimum ethical and professional expectations of physicians at your clinic:
Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the information or documentation from external sources, such as AHS, AMA and CSA, which are provided here as a resource for information only.
Stage 2: Before you open
Now that your clinic’s construction or renovation is complete, get ready for opening day by ensuring you’re aware of health and privacy legislation, compliant with CPSA’s Standards of Practice and have the information and tools you need to run a clean, safe clinic.
Registration, permits and licensing – get the right numbers for your clinic:
- Medical clinic registration (CPSA)
- Billing Facility ID (Alberta Health)
- Business Arrangement Number (Alberta Health)
- Practitioner Identification Number (Prac ID#) (Alberta Health)
CPSA’s Standards of Practice – ensure you’re aware of CPSA’s minimum ethical and professional expectations of physicians at your clinic:
Privacy – review and understand your duties to protect patient privacy:
- Health Information Act
- Health Information Act – Health Information Regulation
- Information Sharing and Information Manager Agreements (AMA)
- Information Sharing Agreement (template) (AMA)
- Information Manager Agreement (template) (AMA)
- Physician guide to starting a new practice (AMA)
Operational:
- Health Professions Act
- Register with TPP Alberta
- The Physician’s Guide to Starting a Practice (AMA)
- Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) toolkit (CPSA)
- Personal services regulation and standards (Government of Alberta)
- Reusable & Single-Use Medical Devices Standards (Alberta Health)
- Physician’s Resource Guide (Alberta Health)
Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the information or documentation from external sources, such as AHS, AMA and CSA, which are provided here as a resource for information only.
Stage 3: Day-to-day operations
With your medical clinic fully operational and welcoming patients, your focus should now be on ensuring Albertans receive safe and high-quality medical care at every interaction. This stage is about ensuring physicians adhere to CPSA’s Standards of Practice and pursue continuing competence in practice, maintaining patient privacy, and making sure your clinic is clean and up to standard.
CPSA’s Standards of Practice – ensure you’re aware of CPSA’s minimum ethical and professional expectations of physicians at your clinic:
Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) and Medical Device Requirements – keeping your clinic safe, clean and compliant for patient care:
- Infection Prevention and Control Requirements (CPSA)
- Reusable and Single-Use Medical Device Requirements (CPSA)
Privacy – review and understand your duties to protect patient privacy:
- Health Information Act
- Health Information Act – Health Information Regulation
- Privacy Impact Assessment (OIPC)
- Clinic and Patient Privacy (AMA)
Operational:
Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the information or documentation from external sources, such as AHS, AMA and CSA, which are provided here as a resource for information only.
Stage 4: Closing a medical clinic
Whether your clinic is closing or relocating entirely or a single physician is closing or relocating their practice, there is often a shared responsibility to ensure things are done correctly and continuity of care is in place for patients. This stage outlines what to do with patient records, sterilization equipment and reusable medical devices.
CPSA’s Standards of Practice – ensure you’re aware of CPSA’s minimum ethical and professional expectations of physicians at your clinic:
Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) – proper disposal of medical equipment and archiving logs:
- Coming soon: Decommissioning sterilizer and reusable medical devices (CPSA)
- Coming soon: Storage of sterilization logs (CPSA)
Privacy – your duty to protect patient privacy continues beyond the provision of care:
- Health Information Act
- Health Information Act – Health Information Regulation
- Information Sharing Agreement (template) (AMA)
- Information Manager Agreement (template) (AMA)
Operational:
Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the information or documentation from external sources, such as AHS, AMA and CSA, which are provided here as a resource for information only.
Resource bank
To see all resources or view resources by stage, click All Resources and filter by "Opening/building/renovating medical clinic"
All ResourcesMedical Device Reprocessing Area – Suggested Layout
CPSA Click to view filesMedical device reprocessing (MDR) standards for reusable semi-critical and critical medical devices
CPSA Click to view filesPhysician's Resource Guide
Alberta Health Click to view filesRenovating or developing new clinical office space
CPSA Click to view filesTechnical Design Requirements for Alberta Infrastructure Facilities
Alberta Health Click to view filesYou might also be interested in
Have questions or need guidance?
Please reach out to us.
Inquiries about resources from Alberta Health, Alberta Medical Association, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Canadian Medical Protective Association should be directed to the respective organization.
For questions about the Health Information Act (HIA), contact the HIA Help Desk.