Nearly eight decades of medical service is expected to come to an end next year, with the closure of The Parsons Clinic.
The downtown Red Deer medical centre is scheduled to close on June 30, 2012, confirmed Dr. Peter Bouch, one of the physicians who practises there.
Bouch said he and a number of other doctors from The Parsons Clinic plan to move to a new clinic in 32nd Street Crossing, a commercial building that is under construction at 4758 32nd St. Their new facility will occupy the entire second floor of the new building — about 4,800 square feet — plus a 1,200-square-foot bay on the ground floor.
“There are places for eight full-time physicians, and it will be a full-service family medicine clinic,” said Bouch.
Although 17 doctors are currently affiliated with The Parsons Clinic, only 11 are practising full time and some are retiring or leaving, said Bouch.
“It’s essentially going to go down to eight doctors.”
As a result, the existing clinic at 4822 50th St. will become too big, he said.
Not only will the new clinic be a more suitable size, it will be easier for patients to access and have more parking, said Bouch. The premises will also be brighter and more modern, and their layout conducive to improved patient flows, added Bouch.
He said it’s too early to identify the doctors who will work at the new clinic, but confirmed that at least five will be from The Parsons Clinic.
It has not yet been decided if the new clinic will offer walk-in service.
Bouch, who has been at The Parsons Clinic for 12 years, said patients are being notified of the change in writing. The new clinic is scheduled to open immediately after the old one closes, so there shouldn’t be a disruption in service.
“Everything will be going on as usual.”
Bouch said a name has yet to be chosen for the new clinic, but it will not operate as The Parsons Clinic.
The Parsons Clinic dates back to 1944, when doctors and brothers MacGregor and William Parsons opened it. They were sons of Dr. Richard Parsons, who became Red Deer’s first physician when he arrived here in 1903.
In 2005, the three Parsons were included on a list of the 100 Alberta Physicians of the Century.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com