If you’re looking for meaningful rural medicine with strong community impact, supportive colleagues, and the chance to build a long-term home (with potential future partnership/equity opportunities), this may be the right fit.

Shale Medical Clinic is offering a $50,000 signing bonus for new physician recruits who join full-time and live in Drayton Valley (primary residence). (Bonus details provided as part of the recruitment agreement.)

The opportunity at a glance

Alberta Health Services (AHS) is actively recruiting Family Medicine Physicians for full-time rural practice in Drayton Valley, with a broad scope that includes community clinic, Emergency Room coverage, and acute care/long-term careresponsibilities. 

AHS notes that physicians are expected to:

• Reside in Drayton Valley (primary residence), 
• Maintain a full-time community-based practice, 
• Participate in Emergency Department call schedules as required, 
• Hold/obtain appropriate AHS privileges and appointments. 

AHS also highlights that successful candidates may choose to join an existing practice (like ours) or open their own practice—this is the physician’s independent business decision. 

Why Shale Medical Clinic

We’re a busy, community-rooted clinic in the heart of Drayton Valley, focused on delivering comprehensive, relationship-based primary care—while supporting our physicians with the systems and team culture that make full-scope family medicine sustainable.

1) Strong clinic access and continuity

Our clinic offers comprehensive primary healthcare, including a same-day urgent access service for the community. 
We also have a patient portal that supports online booking and clinic messaging—helpful for continuity and efficient follow-up. 

2) Modern clinic setting with on-site resources

Shale Medical Clinic operates in a well-equipped medical centre environment, including an onsite pharmacy and access to services such as x-ray and ultrasound, along with clinic space designed for efficient patient flow. 
(As with any posting, exact services and workflows are reviewed with candidates during the recruitment conversation.)

3) Collegial, physician-led culture

You’ll be joining a team that values:

• Clear communication and respectful collaboration
• Clinical autonomy with reliable peer support
• Quality improvement and patient-centered decision-making (also emphasized by AHS for this role) 

4) A long-term path (including future partnership/equity options)

We’re building for the future. For physicians who want to put down roots in Drayton Valley, we’re open to structured business equity sharing or partnership opportunities over time, based on mutual fit, community commitment, and practice alignment.

Compensation & eligibility (high level)

AHS lists this opportunity as fee-for-service, potentially including additional program stipends, and notes that total billings vary by practitioner. 
The posting is also marked Sponsorship Eligible. 

Typical required/desired qualifications include:

• Eligibility for CPSA licensure and ACLS
• CCFP and/or rural-relevant credentials such as PALS/NRP/ATLS are listed as desired 

Living in Drayton Valley: big outdoors, real community, close to Edmonton

Drayton Valley is a vibrant and diverse community located where prairie meets boreal forest and the foothills, with strong recreation options (golf, ski trails, walking trail, sports facilities) and a highly engaged community culture. 

Drayton Valley is approximately:

• 60 minutes west of Leduc
• ~90 minutes from Edmonton
• ~2 hours from Red Deer

If you’re looking for a place where your work matters and your off-time can actually feel like off-time, Drayton Valley offers a compelling balance. 

Our $50,000 signing bonus (Shale Medical Clinic)

To help attract long-term physicians to our community, Shale Medical Clinic is offering a $50,000 signing bonus for new recruits who:

• Join Shale Medical Clinic full-time, and
• Maintain primary residence in Drayton Valley.

We’ll review the bonus structure and any return-of-service terms transparently during the recruitment process.

How to apply / connect

1. Apply through AHS:
   AHS Family Medicine Physician – Drayton Valley posting is here: https://doctorjobsalberta.albertahealthservices.ca/jobs/family-medicine-physician-drayton-valley-9864
   (Posting includes scope details, qualifications, and requisition information.) 
2. Connect with Shale Medical Clinic (confidential conversation):
   Phone: 780-898-4628 
   Email: reception@shalemedical.ca
   Location: 5004 50th Avenue, Drayton Valley, AB 

If you’re even considering a move, reach out—we’re happy to talk through practice style, call expectations, clinic support, and what life looks like here.

Quick FAQ

Is this a full-scope rural family medicine role?
Yes—AHS describes the scope as including community clinic plus emergency and inpatient/long-term care components. 

Do I need to live in Drayton Valley?
AHS states physicians must reside in the community and have their primary residence in Drayton Valley. 

Is the position sponsorship eligible?
Yes, the AHS posting marks this opportunity as sponsorship eligible. 

Does Shale Medical Clinic offer online booking / a patient portal and a Modern EMR?
Yes— We use to Telus CHR/Input Health EMR and our patient portal supports online booking and messaging. 

Telus has informed us of an issue with CHR Connect app users being unable to book appointments today. They have issued a fix and users are advised to update their CHR Connect app.

Please note that we have plenty of availability for Same Day appointments today – feel free to walk in today, no booking required!

To ensure you’re ready when our new doctors arrive, we encourage you to register on the CHR Connect App now and enable notifications. Below, we’ve outlined some of the features, how to set it up, and what you can expect. Let’s get started!

Why Register on CHR Connect Now?

By setting up the CHR Connect App today, you’ll be prepared to:

• Stay Informed: Receive real-time notifications and broadcasts when new doctors arrive and Meet & Greet appointments open.
• Book Easily: Schedule your Meet & Greet or other appointments directly through the app.
• Save Time: Manage your healthcare needs quickly and conveniently from anywhere.

Plus, the app offers secure messaging with your care team and access to your health records—all in one place!

What’s a Meet & Greet?

A Meet & Greet appointment is your chance to:

• Introduce Yourself: Help your new family doctor get to know you.
• Discuss Your Needs: Share your healthcare concerns or questions.
• Onboard Smoothly: Start building a relationship with your new doctor.

How to Setup the CHR Connect App

We kindly ask that if you need someone to come in with you, arrangements are made during the booking of the appointment so that we are aware you will be coming in with someone to help with your needs, otherwise we do ask that you arrive alone.

After booking your appointment, upon arrival we also ask that you bring your own mask to the appointment, placing it on prior to entering the facility, upon entering the first set of doors, you can use our hand sanitizing station on the wall to your right. Once your hands are sanitized you may proceed to our reception area to check in as per usual.

We appreciate your patience during these unprecedented times.

The Alberta physician governing body (CPSA) has recommended that as far as possible we employ available video/tele-conferencing technology to minimize exposure to public and clinic staff.

If your condition doesn’t necessarily require a physical exam please request a video/tele-medicine consult with your Shale Physician.

Common teleconference reasons:

• Refills
• Follow up on chronic conditions
• Counselling/Mental Health
• Results etc
• ……note: during your tele-medicine appointment, if your physician determines you need a physical exam you will be provided a priority appointment to attend in-person.

To facilitate this we are ramping up deployment of our online patient portal. (What is a patient portal – Link Here)

REGISTER for an account now:

E-mail: info@draytonvalleypcn.ca

Include your Alberta Health Care Insurance number and phone number in your e-mail and we will call you back to register your account.

We will continue to remain open at the clinic throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Link to CPSA advice to physicians: https://mailchi.mp/cpsa/cpsa-advice-to-the-profession-covid-19-virtual-care