Patients of the late Dr. Jim McAlister in Val Caron have been told that the office is now permanently closed due to his recent death. Dr. McAlister died suddenly on February 9. He was 71.
Patients of McAlister are being asked to go to the office Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. over the next two weeks to pick up their medical files, said a recent social media posting on the Valley East Facebook page.
No fee is charged for this.
There is no contact phone number. Patients will be required to attend at the office. The Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons listed McAlister's office address at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre at 5085 Municipal Road, in Hanmer.
A phone call to the former office number is answered by a voice message advising patients to pick up their charts if they wish and also to attend walk-in clinics for any future medical appointment.
An effort by Sudbury.com to contact the office through social media was not successful.
Individuals needing a new primary health care provider are advised they can register online with the Ontario Ministry of Health, or register with Health Care Connect, to find a doctor or nurse practitioner.
In Sudbury, the Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) also provides some public health related medical services. More information from the health unit can be found here.
McAlister’s obituary said he was a dedicated physician for 45 years, and had a passion for serving those in the North, including Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
He’s survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Carol, his children Rachel (Michael), Rebecca (Patrick Sr.), Heather (Joel) and Graham and his grandchildren Paige, Genevieve, Patrick Jr., and Isabella-Rose.
A funeral for McAlister was held on Feb. 15.
To support McAlister’s family, patients are asked to leave virtual condolences and light a candle through the Jackson and Barnard website. A celebration of life will be held at a later date in the spring
