Hôpital de Chicoutimi, located at 305 Rue Saint-Vallier in Saguenay, is the primary regional referral hospital for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean area, serving a catchment that extends across more than 95,000 km². As part of the CIUSSS du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and a designated Centre affilié universitaire régional affiliated with the Université de Sherbrooke and the Université de Montréal, it offers a full spectrum of emergency, inpatient, and specialist care with residents and medical students continuously on site. Patients requiring advanced or specialized care from across the region — including Jonquière, La Baie, and Lac-Saint-Jean — are regularly referred here, making it the highest level of hospital care available in the Saguenay region.
Services & Specialties
24/7 emergency department, Inpatient hospital care, Outpatient specialty clinics, Surgical services (major expansion underway), Family medicine, Medical specialist consultations, On-site pharmacy, Pastoral care / spiritual care services, Teaching and academic medicine (university-affiliated).
Amenities
Cafeteria (on-site — contact hospital for current hours)
ATM / bank machine
On-site pharmacy
Post office
Boutique La Marinière (gift and retail shop)
Pastoral care services
Nearby lodging: Hôtellerie Desjardins (for out-of-town patients and families)
Call 418-541-1000 before visiting if you are unsure whether the emergency department or an outpatient clinic is more appropriate for your situation — staff can direct you to the right service.
Parking near the hospital entrances is reserved for patients and visitors; do not park in the employee multi-level structure if you are attending as a patient.
If you are travelling from Lac-Saint-Jean, La Baie, or a rural area, ask about Hôtellerie Desjardins nearby, which offers accommodation for patients and families coming from out of town.
Services are available in both French and English — you may request care in either official language.
For quality of care concerns or complaints, the hospital's complaints commissioner can be reached at 418-541-7026 or toll-free at 1-877-662-3963.
As a university-affiliated teaching hospital, expect that residents, medical students, or other health professional trainees may be involved in your care alongside attending physicians.
What to Bring
Valid provincial health card (Carte Soleil / RAMQ card)
Government-issued photo ID
List of current medications, including dosages
List of known allergies
Any relevant medical records, test results, or imaging you have at home
Health insurance information (for out-of-province or international visitors)
Phone charger or portable battery pack for long waits
Snacks, water, and a light jacket or blanket for comfort during extended waits
Parking
On-site parking is available for patients and visitors, with spaces near hospital entrances reserved exclusively for patient and visitor use. A dedicated 630-space multi-level parking structure has been built for hospital staff, ensuring that surface parking close to the entrances remains accessible to those visiting for care. Parking fees may apply. Access is controlled by barriers.
Getting There
The hospital is served by the Société de transport du Saguenay (STS), which operates local bus routes throughout the Chicoutimi area. A covered, heated bus terminal connected to the hospital is planned as part of the new surgical block expansion. Check the STS website or call the hospital at 418-541-1000 for current route information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the phone number for Hôpital de Chicoutimi?
The main number for Hôpital de Chicoutimi is 418-541-1000. Administrative offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., but the emergency department is available 24/7.
Is Hôpital de Chicoutimi a regional referral centre?
Yes. Hôpital de Chicoutimi serves as the primary regional referral hospital for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean territory. Patients from across the region — including Jonquière (approximately 25% of admissions), La Baie, and Lac-Saint-Jean — are referred here for specialized and advanced care.
Is Hôpital de Chicoutimi a teaching hospital?
Yes. The hospital has been a Centre affilié universitaire régional since 2004 and is affiliated with the Université de Sherbrooke (since 1999) and the Université de Montréal (since 2002). The Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Sherbrooke trains medical students in Saguenay, with approximately 128 students present at the hospital at any given time.
Can I receive services in English at Hôpital de Chicoutimi?
Yes. While the hospital operates primarily in French, services are available in both French and English. If you require English-language care, you may request it upon arrival.
Is there parking available for patients and visitors at Hôpital de Chicoutimi?
Yes. Patient and visitor parking is available near the hospital entrances and is reserved exclusively for non-staff use. A separate 630-space multi-level structure accommodates hospital employees. Parking fees may apply; access is controlled by barriers.
What amenities are available at Hôpital de Chicoutimi for patients and families?
The hospital has a cafeteria, an ATM, an on-site pharmacy, a post office, a gift boutique called La Marinière, and pastoral care services. For patients and families travelling from out of town, Hôtellerie Desjardins is a nearby lodging option. Call 418-541-1000 for current cafeteria hours.
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.
We check our own accuracy. Forecasting two hours ahead, the ERstat estimate was typically off by 33 minutes against what hospitals themselves later posted, compared with 41 minutes for the hospital's own current figure, and was the closer of the two 58% of the time. See the full scorecard, or how we work the number out.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
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