HÔPITAL DU SACRÉ-CŒUR DE MONTRÉAL

Best Times to Visit

About HÔPITAL DU SACRÉ-CŒUR DE MONTRÉAL

Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal (HSCM), located at 5400 Boulevard Gouin Ouest in the Cartierville neighbourhood of Montréal, is one of the busiest and most specialized emergency departments in Canada, serving over 63,000 patients annually. As one of only three Level 1 Trauma Centres in Québec and the largest tertiary university trauma centre in Montréal, HSCM provides comprehensive emergency, surgical, cardiac, and critical care for adults. Note that the ED does not accept children under 13, as there is no pediatrics department on site.

Services & Specialties

Level 1 Trauma Centre (one of three in Québec), Emergency and general medicine, Emergency detoxification for severe withdrawal or poisoning, Cardiac surgery including robot-assisted procedures (Da Vinci), Surgery of large intrathoracic vessels — provincial referral centre for thoracic aorta trauma, Orthopedic surgery, ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgery, Bariatric surgery, Cardiology, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and syncope clinics, Vascular medicine, Endocrinology and diabetes care, Pneumonology: COPD, asthma, sleep disorders, tuberculosis, pulmonary rehabilitation, Obstetrics and gynecology, breast clinic, Palliative care, Antibiotic therapy clinic, Intensive care: 32 individual rooms including 7 isolation rooms, Occupational therapy.

Amenities

• Oasis Cafeteria — Wing H, 2nd floor, open daily 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Wheelchair and mobility assistance available upon request
• French-primary services with extensive English staff support
• Bilingual signage (French primary, English in key areas)
• Da Vinci surgical robot facility
• 4 research laboratories and 6 simulation and teaching laboratories on site

Other Care Options

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

Tips Before You Go

• The ED does not accept children under 13 — if you are bringing a child under that age, go directly to a pediatric facility such as Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé instead.
• HSCM is a Level 1 Trauma Centre and a high-volume regional hospital — for non-life-threatening conditions, consider a local CLSC or urgent care clinic to reduce your wait time.
• The hospital operates primarily in French; if you prefer English, inform the triage nurse — extensive English support is available among staff.
• Parking payment terminals are located at the Wing R entrance; bring a payment card or cash and check posted rates, as pricing is subject to change.
• For mental health emergencies involving children or adolescents, patients may be referred to Hôpital en santé mentale Albert-Prévost — ask staff at triage about the most appropriate care pathway.
• Visiting hours for general patients are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; birth patients and those receiving end-of-life care have unrestricted access.

What to Bring

• Government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's licence or passport)
• Québec health insurance card (RAMQ card)
• List of current medications including dosages
• Any relevant medical records, imaging, or test results
• Provincial drug insurance card or private insurance information
• Emergency contact name and phone number
• Phone charger or portable battery pack for long waits
• Comfort items such as a book, headphones, or a light snack for extended wait times

Parking

Two visitor parking lots are located near the main entrance and the emergency department, with posted rates on site. Payment terminals are available at the Wing R entrance. Reduced rates may be available upon request. Designated accessible parking spaces are provided for visitors with reduced mobility, and all entrances are wheelchair-accessible via ramps and elevators.

Getting There

HSCM is accessible by STM bus lines 117, 151, 64, and 69, with the nearest stop (Gouin / Notre-Dame-Des-Anges) approximately a 4-minute walk from the hospital. The Henri-Bourassa Metro station (Orange Line) also provides access to the area. Bixi bike-share and Communauto car-sharing stations are available nearby.

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.