Finding a family doctor after moving to Orillia

Healthcare is one of the first things people ask about when they're planning a move. The short version: Orillia has a full-service hospital, finding a family doctor takes time here as it does across Ontario, and there are good ways to bridge the gap. rossmanteam.com's schools and healthcare guide describes the hospital's programs. This page is about the steps and the timing.

What's the order of operations?

When	What to do
Before you move	Ask your current doctor whether they'll keep seeing you after the move, and for how long. Get copies of key records and a medication list.
Moving week	Update your health card address (within 30 days; in person if your address is printed on the card).
As soon as the card shows your new postal code	Register with Health Care Connect at 811 or online.
While you wait	Use your current doctor, Health811, pharmacists and local clinics.
When you're matched	Book the first appointment and arrange record transfer.

How does Health Care Connect work?

Health Care Connect is Ontario's waitlist for people looking for a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

• Register by phone: call 811 (TTY 711), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you've used Health Care Connect before, you have to register by phone.
• Register online through the Province's Health Care Connect page.
• You'll need your Ontario health card number and the postal code tied to it, plus basic contact details. You can register your whole family.
• What happens next: a Care Connector searches for a provider for you. You'll get a confirmation letter at the address on your health card. When you're matched, you get a referral letter and the new provider contacts you to book.
• If you move again (for example, from a rental into your purchased home), update your information online or at 811 and update your health card address.

Because the letters go to the address on your health card, update the card before you register.

Can you keep your GTA doctor during the transition?

The Province's Health Care Connect page says: "You do not need to leave your current provider while you wait." That's the key fact for anyone moving from the GTA.

What it means in practice:

• Ask your doctor directly. Whether they'll keep you on their roster after a move is up to them. Some will for a while; some won't.
• Plan the drive. If you keep a Toronto doctor, combine appointments with your office days.
• Ask about virtual visits. Some doctors offer phone or video appointments to existing patients. Ask yours.
• Don't rely on it forever. Register with Health Care Connect anyway, so you're in line for a local provider.

Where do you go for care while you wait?

Health811

Call 811 or use the online chat for free, confidential advice from a registered nurse, day or night. Health811 can also help you find services like walk-in clinics and community health centres near your new address.

Pharmacists

From July 1, 2026, Ontario pharmacists can prescribe for 28 minor ailments, up from 19. Examples include cold sores, acid reflux, sprains and strains, tick bites and urinary tract infections. The service is free with an OHIP card. Not every pharmacist offers every ailment, so call ahead.

Choosing a pharmacy early also helps with prescription transfers. Ask your GTA pharmacy to transfer refills once you've picked one near your new home.

A nurse practitioner clinic for people without a provider

The Couchiching OHT Unattached Clinic, set up by the Couchiching Ontario Health Team and the Couchiching Family Health Team, is led by nurse practitioners and serves people without a primary care provider. It's listed at 119 Memorial Ave. in Orillia and offers preventative care, chronic condition management and acute care, and helps patients find a permanent provider. Directory listings show weekday hours and online booking. Check the current hours, location and whether it's taking new patients before you go.

Walk-in clinics

Several Orillia clinics are listed as offering walk-in care, but hours and availability change and some after-hours clinics are only for their own rostered patients. Call ahead, or ask Health811 for the nearest option that day.

Emergencies

Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital at 170 Colborne St. W. has a 24-hour emergency department, including Geriatric Emergency Management. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

What about specialists and regional care?

OSMH runs a wide range of programs, including cancer care, kidney care, surgery, diagnostic imaging, birthing and mental health. For some regional programs, you'll go to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie, the regional centre for Simcoe Muskoka, which runs the regional heart program and is designated a Level III trauma centre.

If you're seeing a specialist in the GTA now:

• Ask whether you can stay with them after the move, and how far you'd be travelling for appointments.
• Ask whether follow-ups can be virtual.
• If you'd rather move your care north, ask for a referral to a specialist at OSMH or RVH before you go.

What if you or a parent need home care or long-term care?

Ontario Health atHome handles home care and long-term care applications at 1-833-515-1234. If you're moving a parent, start this early; retiring to Orillia has more.

How Jordan can help

Jordan can show you homes with healthcare in mind, including drive times to OSMH and to Barrie for RVH, and help you time your move so you can keep your current care in place during the transition. Call 705-345-0797.