This article features a live dashboard of emergency department wait times (updated hourly) for hospitals in Quebec. You can also compare wait times for hospitals in Montreal.
Good Caring Canada has compared emergency department wait times in Quebec. This article also provides advice for how you can protect yourself in the waiting room, prepare for long wait times, and find alternative care.
Planning for peak times and seasonality
Planning your visit to the emergency department can significantly impact wait times, particularly if the medical issue is not urgent.
Mondays tend to be the busiest day of the week in hospital emergency departments. The accumulation of non-emergency cases over the weekend often result in a surge of patient volume on the first work day of the week.
If your condition allows for flexibility in seeking care, consider the day of the week for your visit. Avoid Mondays and weekends.
The time of day is unlikely to significantly reduce wait times, as hospitals align staff availability with patient volumes.
During standard business hours, from morning to early evening, full staffing is in place. However, higher patient volumes during these times can create bottlenecks. Even with more medical personnel, increased demand can still lead to longer waits as emergency departments handle the influx of patients.
Late-night and early-morning hours may seem ideal due to fewer patients. However, reduced staffing during these hours often negates the benefit of a smaller patient load. Patients may still face long waits due to limited healthcare providers.
Demand seasonality can affect wait times in emergency departments across Canada, particularly among younger patients. Young children, aged 0 to 5, see a rise in emergency visits during autumn, with a notable decline in the summer months. Children, aged 5 to 19, experience a peak in spring and a similar decrease in the summer.
Adults, aged 20 to 64, generally show consistent demand for emergency care throughout the year. Seniors over 65 also follow a steady pattern, with minimal seasonal fluctuations.
Protecting yourself and family
When visiting the emergency department, it is important to be aware that crowded waiting areas can increase the risk of exposure to illness. Hospitals are often filled with patients with various contagious conditions. While waiting for emergency care, many patients may unknowingly contract illnesses.
Protecting yourself requires proactive measures:
- 😷 Wear a mask. One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself from airborne illnesses is to wear a mask. Masks are particularly important during flu season.
- 🧴 Practice hand hygiene. Contact with shared surfaces, such as chairs, doorknobs, and check-in kiosks, can expose you to pathogens. Regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Use a hand sanitizer.
- 📱 Protect belongings. Germs can transfer to your belongings. Keep personal items, such as phones and bags, away from shared surfaces. If you must place personal items on a public surface, be sure to clean them.
- 💪🏼 Boost your immune system. Appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements can provide an extra layer of protection. Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and zinc can boost immune function to help your body fight infections.
Preparing for extended wait times
Long wait times are often unavoidable, especially during busy periods or when non-urgent conditions are being treated. Preparing for an extended stay can make the experience more comfortable and help reduce stress.
- 🧣 Bring comfort aids. Prolonged sitting can bring uncomfortable or painful, especially for the older adults. Bring a neck pillow, lumbar cushion and a blanket.
- 🎧 Wear noise-cancelling headphones. Hospitals can be noisy environments, which can increase stress. Use noise-cancelling headphones to block out the surrounding commotion.
- 🍪 Pack healthy snacks. Hospitals may have limited food options. Bring snacks to sustain energy levels. Consider nuts, fruit, whole-grain crackers, or granola bars. Check with the medical staff if fasting is required before treatment.
- 🧦 Dress comfortably. Hospitals can have variable temperatures. Dress in layers. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
- 🎮 Bring personal entertainment. Entertainment can reduce stress and make the wait feel shorter. Consider a book, tablet for web browsing, videos, music, and podcasts.
Quebec hospitals with shortest average emergency wait times
Below are three health and social services center in Quebec with the shortest average emergency department wait times, from 2018 to 2023, based upon data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information:
- 🥇 Institut de cardiologie de Montréal has the shortest emergency wait time at 3.3 hours
- 🥈 CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches, with an average wait time of 3.4 hours, ranks second for the shortest emergency wait time in Quebec. Hospitals include Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis
- 🥉 CISSS des Îles, with an average wait time of 3.4 hours, ranks third for the shortest emergency wait time in Quebec. Hospitals include Hôpital de l'Archipel
Quebec hospitals with longest average emergency wait times
Below are three top health and social services center in Quebec with the longest average emergency department wait times, from 2018 to 2023, based upon data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information:
- 🐌 CISSS des Laurentides has the longest emergency wait time at 8.9 hours. Hospitals include Hôpital de Saint-Eustache, Hôpital de Mont-Laurier, Hôpital Laurentien, and Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies
- 🐢 CISSS de Lanaudière, with an average wait time of 8.8 hours, ranks second for the longest emergency wait time in Quebec. Hospitals include Hôpital Pierre-Le Gardeur and Hôpital de la Visitation
- 🦥 CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre, with an average wait time of 8.6 hours, ranks third for the longest emergency wait time in Quebec. Hospitals include Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne and Hôpital du Haut-Richelieu
Paying for hospital emergency services in Quebec
In Quebec, the cost of hospital emergency services is influenced by an individual's residency status:
- 🍁 Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Quebec are generally covered under the Quebec Health Insurance Plan (QHIP). This plan ensures that there are no direct fees for essential emergency services, although there may be charges for specific auxiliary services or non-standard items.
- 🌏 Non-Canadian tourists do not qualify for QHIP coverage and are responsible for the full cost of emergency services. These costs can be substantial. Tourists are strongly advised to have adequate travel insurance that covers medical expenses to avoid facing steep out-of-pocket costs for emergency care.
- 🎓 Non-Canadian international students may have different coverage depending on their situation. Students are typically required to enroll in QHIP, or they might have coverage through private insurance.
- 🛠️ Non-Canadian temporary workers are eligible to apply for QHIP coverage, which includes hospital emergency services. However, like international students, there may be a waiting period before QHIP coverage becomes effective. During this period, temporary workers should either use private insurance or pay out-of-pocket.
- 🕊️ Refugees are entitled to healthcare coverage, including emergency hospital services, under certain programs. Refugees may be eligible for the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which provides coverage for essential and emergency health services similar to QHIP benefits.
Learn wait times for common medical procedures in Quebec: