CHUM

Best Times to Visit

About CHUM

The Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) operates a large, 24/7 emergency department at its flagship megahospital complex in downtown Montréal, serving adult patients with a full spectrum of emergency and acute care needs. As one of the largest university hospital centres in North America, CHUM offers access to specialized and ultra-specialized services across more than 35 medical disciplines, including cancer care, neuroscience, transplantation, and cardiorespiratory medicine. Note that CHUM is an adult-only facility — patients requiring pediatric emergency care should proceed to CHU Sainte-Justine.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Adult Emergency Department (~51 beds), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Cancer Centre (with 12 radiation bunkers), Neuroscience, Cardiorespiratory and cardiometabolic care, Transplantation services, Musculoskeletal and functional medicine, Gynecology and obstetrics (high-risk pregnancy, fertility, menopause), Birthing unit, Addictions medicine and medically supervised withdrawal, Pain clinic, Sleep clinic, Diagnostic imaging: radiology, nuclear medicine, 7 MRI units, 39 operating rooms, Endoscopy, Laboratory services, On-site pharmacy, General and internal medicine.

Amenities

• Food concessions and coffee kiosk on the ground floor of Pavilion D
• On-site pharmacy
• ATMs near the Sanguinet entrance, Viger entrance, and ground-floor information kiosk
• Free Wi-Fi via the Île Sans Fil network in select public areas
• 365-seat auditorium
• Hospital library
• Bicycle racks near main entrances
• BIXI bike-share stations nearby
• Underground tunnel access from Champ-de-Mars metro

Other Care Options

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Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →

Tips Before You Go

• CHUM treats adults only — if you are bringing a child, go directly to CHU Sainte-Justine instead to avoid delays.
• Use the underground tunnel from Champ-de-Mars metro station to access the hospital without going outside, especially useful in Montréal winters.
• If you are arriving by car, budget for parking costs; the first 3 hours are $1.50/hour, but rates increase to $3.00/hour after that.
• As a major university teaching hospital, CHUM has on-site specialists in over 35 disciplines — if you have a complex or serious condition, this is one of the most capable facilities in Quebec.
• Services are primarily delivered in French, though staff in this bilingual city can often assist in English; bring any medical documents or medication lists in both languages if possible.

What to Bring

• Government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's licence or passport)
• Quebec health insurance card (carte d'assurance maladie / RAMQ card)
• Complete list of current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or imaging
• Provincial health insurance or supplemental insurance information
• Phone charger or portable battery pack for long waits
• Snacks, water, and a light jacket or sweater
• A trusted friend or family member if possible, to help communicate with staff

Parking

Underground parking for up to 850 vehicles is accessible via 1000 Rue Saint-Denis. Rates are $1.50/hour for the first 3 hours and $3.00/hour thereafter. Visitors staying beyond 16 hours without a permit are charged a flat fee of $8.50. EV charging stations are available at level PD of the Saint-Denis parking structure.

Getting There

CHUM is directly connected to the Champ-de-Mars metro station (Orange Line) via an underground tunnel, allowing access without going outdoors. The Berri-UQAM metro interchange station is also nearby, and the hospital is only three metro stations from the commuter rail network. BIXI bike-share stations and bicycle racks are available near the main entrances.

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.

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.