CENTRE DE SANTE RENE-RICARD

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is available for this facility. As a general guideline, mid-morning on weekdays (Tuesday through Thursday) tends to be less busy at small community health centres. Always call ahead at 418-745-2591 for non-life-threatening concerns to confirm the best time to visit.

Busier times: No historical data is available to identify peak hours at this facility. Like most emergency departments, evenings, weekends, and Mondays after a long weekend may see higher patient volumes. For non-urgent matters, avoiding these times when possible is advisable.

About CENTRE DE SANTE RENE-RICARD

Centre de Santé René-Ricard is a public CLSC and community health centre located at 32 3e Avenue in Chapais, in the remote Nord-du-Québec region, providing 24/7 emergency care to residents across a vast geographic territory. Operating under the CRSSS de la Baie-James, it serves as a frontline facility for Chapais and surrounding northern communities, offering general emergency services alongside a broad range of primary and social health programs. Patients requiring highly specialized care such as complex cardiac, trauma, or neurology services should be prepared for transfer to a larger regional facility, as this centre is best suited for urgent and primary care needs in this isolated northern setting.

Services & Specialties

24/7 emergency care, General clinical and primary care services, Public health programs, Mental health services, Addiction services including detoxification and outpatient rehabilitation, Social reinsertion support, Services for seniors and loss of autonomy, Services for youth and troubled youth, Physical and intellectual disability support (PDD), Family health services including newborn and young mother programs, Remote dermatology via video or phone conferencing, Remote rehabilitative care via video or phone conferencing, Remote pharmacy services via video or phone conferencing, Bilingual services (French and English).

Amenities

• Remote pharmacy services available via video or phone conferencing
• Bilingual services in French and English
• On-site private medical clinic

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care →

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Tips Before You Go

• Call ahead at 418-745-2591 to confirm service availability, especially for specialist or non-emergency needs, as some services are delivered remotely via video or phone conferencing.
• If you are travelling to Chapais from a distant northern community, plan your route along Provincial Route 113 and account for road and weather conditions, which can be severe in northern Quebec.
• For complex or specialized conditions such as cardiac emergencies, stroke, or serious trauma, be aware that transfer to a larger facility — most likely in Chibougamau or further south — may be required.
• Specialist consultations including dermatology and rehabilitative care are available remotely; ask staff about telehealth options if an in-person specialist is needed.
• Given the remote setting and limited nearby alternatives, consider calling the centre before visiting for non-life-threatening concerns to determine the most appropriate care pathway.

What to Bring

• Quebec health insurance card (RAMQ card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical history documents or prior test results
• Emergency contact information
• Health and drug insurance information if applicable
• Personal comfort items for potential wait times (water, snacks, warm clothing)
• Payment method for any applicable fees or prescription costs

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.