CENTRE HOSPITALIER ROBERT-GIFFARD

About CENTRE HOSPITALIER ROBERT-GIFFARD

Centre Hospitalier Robert-Giffard, now officially the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec (IUSMQ), is a specialized psychiatric hospital located on Chemin de la Canardière in the Beauport borough of Québec City. This facility provides comprehensive psychiatric care exclusively for adults aged 18 and over living with serious mental health disorders, and is affiliated with Université Laval. This is not a general emergency hospital — patients experiencing non-psychiatric emergencies such as cardiac events, trauma, or stroke should proceed to a general hospital emergency department such as Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus or Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement in Québec City.

Services & Specialties

Specialized adult psychiatry (18+), Psychotic disorders program, Anxiety and mood disorders program, Severe personality disorders program, Intellectual disability with psychopathology, Perinatal psychiatry, Geriatric psychiatry, Forensic psychiatry, Psychiatry and addiction program, Sexual behaviour disorder expertise and assessment, Electrocardiography (ECG), Holter monitoring, Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, Treadmill (stress) testing, Electroencephalography (EEG), Respiratory therapy and inhalotherapy.

Amenities

• CERVO Brain Research Centre atrium (public space connecting F and S Pavilions)
• On-site amphitheater (CERVO building)
• Contact facility at 418-663-5321 for cafeteria, pharmacy, and Wi-Fi availability

Tips Before You Go

• This facility is a referral-based specialized psychiatric hospital — access to most services begins with a referral from your family doctor or through your local CLSC mental health access desk (guichet d'accès).
• If you or someone you know is experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis, call 911 or go to the emergency department of a general hospital in Québec City such as Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus before contacting this facility.
• For non-psychiatric emergencies (cardiac, trauma, stroke, pediatric), do not come to this facility — proceed immediately to a general emergency department in Québec City.
• The institution is part of the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale network; your CLSC case worker can help coordinate your referral and first psychiatry appointment at IUSMQ.
• When visiting a patient, contact the facility at 418-663-5321 in advance to confirm visiting hours, ward locations, and any current visitor guidelines.

What to Bring

• Valid government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's licence or passport)
• Provincial health insurance card (carte d'assurance maladie du Québec / RAMQ card)
• Referral letter or documentation from your family doctor or CLSC if applicable
• Complete list of current medications including dosages
• Name and contact information of your family doctor or CLSC worker
• Emergency contact name and phone number
• Any relevant prior psychiatric or medical records
• Comfortable clothing and personal items if an extended stay is anticipated

Frequently Asked Questions

About ER Wait Times

Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.

Wait times are estimates based on Quebec health data. Actual wait times may vary.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.