HÔPITAL DE L'ARCHIPEL

Best Times to Visit

About HÔPITAL DE L'ARCHIPEL

Hôpital de l'Archipel in Cap-aux-Meules is the sole acute care hospital serving the approximately 13,000 residents and seasonal visitors of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Classified as a General and Specialized Care Hospital (CHSGS) and operating as an hôpital de proximité, its emergency department runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with 6 functional stretcher bays staffed by specialist physicians and specialized nurse practitioners. As the only hospital on this remote island territory, it provides essential emergency, hospital, and community health services, while complex cases requiring advanced trauma, cardiac, or neurosurgical care are transferred to mainland Quebec.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, General and specialized hospital care (CHSGS), Laboratory services (fasting, non-fasting, anticoagulation monitoring), Walk-in GMF (Groupe de médecine de famille) clinic, CLSC community health services, Long-term care (CHSLD), Rehabilitation and intellectual disability services (CRDITSA), Designated sexual assault care centre, Specialist physician consultations, Specialized nurse practitioner care.

Amenities

• CISSS des Îles administrative centre on-site (hours: Mon–Fri 8h–16h, closed 12h–13h)
• Contact hospital directly at (418) 986-2121 to confirm cafeteria, pharmacy, ATM, and Wi-Fi availability

Other Care Options

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

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

Tips Before You Go

• This is the only hospital on the Îles-de-la-Madeleine — for life-threatening emergencies, call 911 immediately so staff can coordinate care and arrange medical evacuation to the mainland if needed.
• If your health concern is non-urgent, consider the walk-in GMF clinic located on-site: Mon & Thu 8h–11h30 and 13h–16h, Tue 8h–11h30 and 15h–18h, Wed 8h–11h30 and 16h30–19h30, Fri 8h–11h30.
• For fasting blood work, arrive at the laboratory between 7h and 9h on weekdays; non-fasting patients are seen 9h–11h, and anticoagulation follow-ups from 11h15–12h.
• Visitors and tourists should be aware that highly specialized procedures (advanced cardiac intervention, neurosurgery, pediatric intensive care) are not available on the islands and require transfer to mainland Quebec — travel with sufficient medication supplies and relevant medical records.
• The CISSS des Îles administrative offices are housed in this building; for non-emergency administrative inquiries, visit during business hours (Mon–Fri 8h–16h) rather than through the ER.

What to Bring

• Valid provincial health card (RAMQ card for Quebec residents)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of all current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or imaging
• Contact information for your family doctor or specialist
• Method of payment for any applicable fees
• Warm clothing or a blanket — waiting areas can be cool
• Snacks, water, and entertainment for potentially long 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.