La Verendrye Hospital

About La Verendrye Hospital

La Verendrye General Hospital is Fort Frances's primary acute care facility and the main emergency hub for the Rainy River District of Northwestern Ontario, operated by Riverside Health Care. The 30-bed hospital features a full emergency department equipped to handle acute, urgent, emergent, chronic, and routine care, supported by 3 intensive care beds, surgical services, and visiting specialists. Residents across the Rainy River District rely on this ER for everything from life-threatening emergencies to complex medical needs, with access to telehealth connections through the NORTH Network for specialist consultations.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Acute care (30 beds, including 3 ICU beds), Surgical unit with fully integrated operating room, Day surgery and post-anaesthesia recovery, Labour and delivery (2 rooms), Endoscopy, Cardiac stress testing, Pre-admission clinic, Visiting specialists (oncology, pediatrics, geriatrics), Telehealth via NORTH Network, Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program, Stroke Prevention Clinic (via Riverside Health Care), Telestroke Program (via Riverside Health Care), Walk-In Mental Health Counselling (via Riverside Health Care), Inpatient and outpatient clinics, Telemetry unit.

Amenities

• On-site parking
• Chapel with stained glass windows
• Hospital Auxiliary (La Verendrye General Hospital Auxiliary) supporting patient services
• Main entrance registration at Front Street entrance

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• Emergency patients must register at the Emergency entrance — bring your OHIP card or applicable medical insurance information to speed up the registration process.
• For non-emergency specialist needs, ask about the NORTH Network telehealth program, which connects patients in Fort Frances to medical specialists via videoconferencing without requiring travel.
• Do not call the Emergency Department for medical advice — staff are legally unable to provide advice over the phone. Call 811 (Health811) for non-emergency health guidance.
• If you are coming from a remote area of the Rainy River District, plan your route in advance, especially in winter when road conditions in Northwestern Ontario can be challenging.
• The hospital's main registration has moved to the Front Street entrance — use this entrance for general visits and non-emergency services, and the Emergency entrance only for urgent care.

What to Bring

• Valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card or applicable provincial health card
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, including dosages
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or imaging if you have them
• Provincial or private insurance information if applicable
• Emergency contact information
• Comfortable clothing or a change of clothes if a longer stay is possible
• Something to read or headphones, as wait times can vary

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 Ontario health data. Actual wait times may vary.

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