Private Physician Network Transition: What BC Clinics Need to Do Before September 4

The Private Physician Network is being decommissioned by PHSA on September 4, 2026. For the approximately 950 BC medical clinics currently on the private physician network, that date is not a distant concern. It is a fixed deadline with real consequences for patient care, EMR access, and regulatory compliance. The Family Practice Services Committee sent official communications to clinics on May 6, 2026. Most clinic managers know the transition is coming. Far fewer understand what it actually involves, why calling a commercial ISP is not sufficient, or how much lead time a safe transition genuinely requires. 

What Is the Private Physician Network?

The private physician network was introduced in 2007 at a time when reliable commercial internet was not consistently available across BC. It is a province-wide initiative managed by PHSA and designed and monitored by Telus, providing clinics with a private, high-speed network for secure access to their EMR systems. The network is provided free of charge to clinics using an ASP-model (cloud-based) EMR. BC is the only province in Canada that delivers EMR applications to clinics through a dedicated private network of this kind. 

What most clinic managers do not fully appreciate is what the private physician network includes beyond the internet connection. The PPN provides a professionally managed firewall, anti-virus protection, intrusion prevention, and intrusion detection, all configured specifically for clinical environments and all covered by PHSA at no cost to the clinic. After September 4, responsibility for every one of those layers transfers to the clinic. 

What Changes After the PPN Is Decommissioned?

The Ministry of Health's rationale for decommissioning the private physician network is that secure commercial internet is now widely available across BC. That is true. What is also true is that a commercial ISP provides an internet pipe. It does not provide a firewall configured for a medical environment, intrusion detection tuned to clinical traffic, or network architecture designed to protect patient health information under BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and federal PIPEDA.  

After September 4, clinics will need to independently procure a commercial business-grade internet service, a business-grade firewall, properly configured Wi-Fi infrastructure, and ongoing management of their own network security.  

Why the Transition Timeline Matters More Than Most Clinics Realize

ISP provisioning in BC typically takes four to six weeks from the time an order is placed. Equipment procurement, firewall configuration, EMR compatibility testing, and cutover planning each add time on top of that. A clinic that begins the process in August will be competing with hundreds of other clinics at the same time, and qualified IT providers with medical clinic experience may not have availability. 

As Doctors of BC notes, a clinic that does not transition properly before September 4 risks service disruptions, loss of access to critical clinical systems, and direct impacts to patient care. Inadequate security configuration during the transition can also expose clinics to privacy breaches, cyber threats, and regulatory non-compliance. These are not abstract risks. They are the predictable outcome of a rushed or unmanaged transition. 

For the last seventeen years, Gennix has been supporting medical clinics on the PPN across the Lower Mainland and is currently booking transition projects for clinics in  Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Burnaby, Chilliwack, White Rock, Richmond, Coquitlam, and the broader region.  

→ Is your clinic ready to start the transition? Book a PPN transition consult with Gennix before spots are filled.

What a Managed Private Physician Network Transition Actually Involves

A well-managed PPN transition starts with an assessment of the clinic's current connectivity, hardware, and EMR configuration. ISP selection and provisioning follow, and not just any business internet plan will do. The connection needs the bandwidth and service level appropriate for clinical operations that run EMRs such as Profile, Med Access, Accuro, Collaborative Health Record (CHR), MYLE, MOIS, AVA, or OSCAR. 

A business-grade firewall is then procured and configured to replace the security functions the PPN provided. The firewall needs to be configured to protect patient health information, support the traffic requirements of clinical applications, and meet the standards outlined in Doctors of BC's six-step transition guide. Wi-Fi infrastructure is reviewed and updated if needed. 

EMR systems are tested on the new connection before cutover to confirm that clinical applications perform correctly. The cutover itself is scheduled for a time that minimizes disruption to clinical operations, not a busy Monday morning. Post-transition testing confirms everything is functioning as expected before the old PPN connection is decommissioned. 

What to Look for in a PPN Transition IT Provider

The most important factor is familiarity with clinical environments specifically: knowledge of the EMR systems running in BC clinics, understanding of the PIPA and PIPEDA obligations that apply to patient data, and experience configuring network security that meets the standards regulators and insurers expect. A provider who has done general office IT but never worked with a clinic running an EMR will face a learning curve. 

Availability before September 4 is also a practical consideration. A provider who is already booking PPN transitions will have a clear process in place. Look for a provider who can show you a realistic timeline, a defined project scope, and a plan for ongoing support after the cutover so the new environment is maintained, not just stood up. 

How Gennix Is Helping BC Medical Clinics Through the Private Physician Network Transition

Gennix has supported medical clinics on the private physician network across the Lower Mainland and is actively managing PPN transitions for clinics ahead of the September 4 deadline. That means ISP procurement and provisioning, firewall and network security configuration appropriate for clinical environments, EMR compatibility testing before cutover, and a managed cutover process scheduled to minimize disruption to patient care. After the transition, Gennix provides ongoing managed IT services so the clinic's new network environment stays properly maintained and compliant rather than drifting from the configuration that was set up on day one. 

Clinics that have received communications from Doctors of BC and are not sure where to start can review the Doctors of BC six-step transition guide as a starting point. Working through those steps with an IT provider who knows the clinical context is the difference between a smooth cutover and an incident that affects your patients and your practice. 

→ Follow Gennix on LinkedIn and Facebook for updates on the PPN transition and IT support for medical clinics across the Lower Mainland.  

→ Do not leave the PPN transition to the last minute. Contact Gennix now to book your clinic's transition before September 4.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Private Physician Network in BC? 

The Private Physician Network (PPN) is a province-wide initiative introduced in 2007 that provides BC medical clinics with a private, high-speed network for secure EMR access. It is managed by PHSA, designed and monitored by Telus, and provided free of charge to qualifying clinics. It includes a managed firewall, anti-virus, intrusion prevention, and intrusion detection. PHSA is decommissioning the PPN on September 4, 2026. 

When is the PPN being decommissioned? 

The PPN will be decommissioned on September 4, 2026. All BC medical clinics currently on the private physician network must transition to alternative internet and security providers before that date. The Family Practice Services Committee sent official communications to clinics on May 6, 2026. 

What does a clinic need after the PPN is decommissioned? 

After the PPN is decommissioned, clinics need a commercial business-grade internet service, a business-grade firewall, and properly configured Wi-Fi infrastructure. They also need ongoing management of their network security to meet the requirements of BC's PIPA and federal PIPEDA. A generic ISP provides the internet connection only. The managed security stack the PPN included must be procured and configured separately. 

How long does a PPN transition take? 

ISP provisioning in BC typically takes four to six weeks. Equipment procurement, firewall configuration, EMR testing, and cutover planning add additional lead time. Clinics that begin the process in August will be competing with hundreds of other clinics going through the same transition simultaneously, and IT provider availability cannot be guaranteed. Doctors of BC recommends beginning the process as soon as possible. 

Can Gennix help my clinic transition off the Private Physician Network? 

Yes. Gennix has supported medical clinics on the PPN across the Lower Mainland and is actively helping clinics transition before the September 4, 2026 deadline. Gennix manages the full transition including ISP procurement, firewall and network security configuration, EMR compatibility testing, cutover planning, and ongoing managed IT services after the transition is complete. Clinics in Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Burnaby, Chilliwack, White Rock, Richmond, Coquitlam, Delta, New Westminster, Maple Ridge, and Abbotsford can book a PPN transition consult directly.