CSSS DE LAC-SAINT-JEAN-EST

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this facility. Generally, mid-morning on weekdays (Tuesday through Thursday) tends to be less busy than weekends, Monday mornings, or evenings. Arriving earlier in the day typically results in shorter waits at most Canadian ERs.

Busier times: No historical data is available for this specific location. As with most emergency departments, Friday evenings through Sunday nights and holidays typically see higher volumes. Late evenings are also commonly busier due to patients delaying care throughout the day.

About CSSS DE LAC-SAINT-JEAN-EST

Hôpital d'Alma, located at 300 Boulevard Champlain Sud in Alma, Quebec, is a general and specialized care hospital (CHSGS) serving the Lac-Saint-Jean-Est area within the CIUSSS du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean network. Its emergency department operates around the clock, 365 days a year, with 17 stretcher bays and access to on-site specialties including surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics, and hematology-oncology. This facility is the primary emergency destination for residents of Alma and the surrounding Lac-Saint-Jean region seeking urgent and specialized hospital care.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department (17 stretcher bays), General surgery, Orthopedics, Obstetrics and birthing centre (Centre des naissances), Pediatrics, Hematology-oncology (hémato-oncologie), Outpatient psychiatry clinic, Day medicine, Radiology and medical imaging, Accredited clinical laboratory (accredited through December 2029), Ergotherapy (occupational therapy), Physiotherapy, Speech-language pathology (orthophonie), Audiology, Nutrition services, Respiratory therapy (inhalothérapie), Family medicine teaching unit (UMF d'Alma).

Amenities

• Wheelchair accessible (ER entrance and Pavillon Alfred-Villeneuve)
• Wheelchairs available at emergency department
• Restrooms on site
• Air conditioning
• Credit cards accepted
• Co-located family medicine teaching unit (UMF d'Alma)
• Services available in French and English

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• Call 418-669-2000 before arriving to confirm parking rates and any specific entry instructions for the emergency department.
• Note that some areas inside the facility involve 15 to 20 steps — if you have mobility needs, use the wheelchair-accessible entrance at the ER or the Pavillon Alfred-Villeneuve.
• For non-emergency medical needs, the co-located UMF d'Alma (family medicine teaching unit) at the same address may be able to assist and help reduce ER wait times.
• If you have complaints or quality-of-service concerns during your visit, you can contact the CIUSSS commissioner at 1-877-662-3963.
• Services are available in both French and English — feel free to communicate with staff in your preferred language.

What to Bring

• Quebec health insurance card (carte d'assurance maladie / RAMQ card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
• Provincial drug insurance card or private insurance information
• Emergency contact name and phone number
• Any relevant medical history documents or recent test results
• Phone charger or portable battery pack for potentially long waits
• Comfortable clothing and a layer for warmth while waiting

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.