HÔPITAL DE CHICOUTIMI

Best Times to Visit

About HÔPITAL DE CHICOUTIMI

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)

Other Care Options

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

Pharmacists in Quebec can assess and prescribe for dozens of common conditions. See what they can treat →

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

Tips Before You Go

• 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

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.