When to go to the emergency department
If you have an urgent health problem that requires immediate attention. Other consultation options are also available! Find out more on this page.
If your problem is not urgent, consider your options.👇
Anxiety, depression, distress
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| Advice on health and medication |
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| Consultation for a non-urgent health problem |
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| Substance abuse problems |
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| Domestic violence |
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| Youth health and well-being |
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Wait times and priority
It’s important to remember that the severity of your condition (and not your arrival time) is what determines the order in which you’re seen by the medical team. This means wait times can vary considerably from person to person, depending on their condition.
The triage nurse will ask you a few questions about your health and will also take your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, pain intensity, etc.). This assessment will determine how urgent your health problem is (priority 1 to 5) and who should be seen first by the medical team.
Here are the priority ratings 👇
P1 🔴 - IMMEDIATE - Life in danger | E.g., needs immediate treatment, unconscious, cardiac arrest
P2 🔴 - VERY URGENT - Prompt attention | E.g., severe chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, signs of stroke
P3 🟠 - URGENT - Major, non-life-threatening problem | E.g., fracture, signs of infection
P4 🟠 - SEMI-URGENT - Does not require immediate treatment | E.g., minor burn, minor allergic reaction
P5 🟢 - NOT URGENT - Consult a clinic, FMG or CLSC instead | E.g., fever, gastroenteritis, signs of urinary tract infection, back pain, earwax buildup, ingrown toenail
Find out more about the situation in the Montérégie region’s emergency departments.
Ambulance transport
WARNING: Arriving by ambulance does not mean you will be seen faster in the emergency department. If your condition is not urgent, you will be triaged like everyone else. You may even be sent to the waiting room. Not to mention, there’s a possibility you may be billed for the ambulance (French only)!
If you need to travel for a medical appointment, certain organizations offer a medical transport service (French only).
To find out more, visit the Politique de déplacement des usagers page (French only).