Clinics and Hospitals

Watson Lake is home to about 1,200 with a population served of around 2,000. The Parhelion Medical Clinic and Watson Lake Community Hospital serve our local population and as well as our surrounding catchment area, including seasonal mining sites. We provide services to three local First Nations, the Liard First Nation, Daylu Dena (BC) and Good Hope Lake (part of Dease River First Nation).

FACILITIES

Watson Lake Community Hospital is a 6 bed hospital with a 24 hour ER as well as lab and xray services. Our clinic, Parhelion Medical Clinic, is conveniently located within the hospital and makes for an easy commute between clinic and hospital duties. We are the only hospital within about 500 km in all directions, and are located on the Alaska highway, so we also provide care to a great deal of highway traffic, especially in the summer season.

Our site is quite remote (500 km from the nearest tertiary care center) so comfort in a rural ER is essential. We area collegial group of physicians who rely on each others support and experience during critical scenarios and its often a team approach during these times.

Our pharmacy is operated as part of Parhelion Medical Clinic and there is no pharmacist on site, so doctors are expected to obtain a rural pharmacist permit and also carry out that role while in clinic/on call. 

LOCAL SUPPORT STAFF

Our clinic & hospital are home to an incredible community of dedicated staff: Amazing (and highly experienced) MOAs, nurses, and hospital administrators. Together, we work to ensure our patients' problems are best addressed despite the remote location of our hospital.

AMBULANCES / MEDIVAC 

EMS/ambulance service is provided by local paramedics along with volunteer first responders. Physicians provide support to EMS for more unstable patients by ground as well as helicopter extractions from more remote sites. 

CONSULTANTS

There are no specialists based in Watson Lake. We work closely with our "local" specialists in Whitehorse, including general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychiatry, and sports medicine. In addition, we often coordinate care with the visiting specialists who frequently come to Whitehorse for clinics.

FIRST NATION SUPPORT

There is additional community support provided by the local First Nation