Hôpital Honoré-Mercier

Best Times to Visit

About HÔPITAL HONORÉ-MERCIER

Hôpital Honoré-Mercier is the primary regional hospital serving Saint-Hyacinthe and the surrounding Les Maskoutains, Acton, and La Vallée-du-Richelieu municipalities, offering general, specialized, and ultra-specialized care through its 24/7 emergency department. The expanded ED features approximately 26 working beds, a rapid evaluation zone with seven chairs for urgent patients, and individual enclosed cubicles designed to improve infection prevention and patient privacy. As a high-capacity facility within the CISSS de la Montérégie-Est health network, this hospital is equipped to handle complex emergencies and is the appropriate destination for serious or life-threatening conditions in the Maskoutains region.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency department, Intensive care unit (ICU), Rapid evaluation zone for urgent patients, Obstetrics and maternity care, Pediatrics and early childhood development, Mental health: outpatient clinic, hospitalization, and psychiatry, Mental health shelter beds (Saint-Charles Pavilion), Palliative care, One-day surgery, Hemodialysis and pre-dialysis clinic, Respiratory rehabilitation program, Diagnostic and testing centre, Detoxification services, Abortion services, Rehabilitation and therapeutic services, Specialized outpatient clinics.

Amenities

• ATM on the ground floor of the Honoré-Mercier Pavilion, across from the admissions desk
• Non-denominational meditation and prayer room (room HM-01-465, 1st floor) — open 24/7
• Spiritual care support available to patients of all faiths
• Meals delivered to inpatient rooms three times daily
• Designated smoking and vaping area on the Saint-Charles Pavilion side near Rue Gauthier (cannabis prohibited)
• Admissions office open Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; emergency reception handles after-hours admissions

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

• Enter the emergency department from the dedicated entrance off Rue Gauthier — it has its own paid parking lot directly adjacent.
• If you arrive outside regular admissions hours (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), check in directly at the emergency reception desk rather than the main admissions office.
• Bring your valid Quebec health insurance card (RAMQ card) — without it, you may be billed for services, even as a Quebec resident.
• Use the rapid evaluation zone if directed by triage staff — it is designed to quickly assess and treat urgent patients, which can reduce your overall wait time.
• If you are a frequent visitor or accompanying a long-term patient, ask the Security Service about the parking coupon booklet, which can help manage parking costs.
• Services are available in both English and French — do not hesitate to request care in your preferred language.

What to Bring

• Valid Quebec health insurance card (RAMQ card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• Complete list of all current medications, including dosages, over-the-counter drugs, and natural health products
• Provincial health forms or referral documents if applicable
• Emergency contact information for a family member or caregiver
• Personal comfort items for potential wait times (water bottle, phone charger, light snack)
• Reading material or entertainment for the wait
• Any relevant medical history, allergy information, or previous test results

Parking

A paid parking lot is accessible from the emergency entrance off Rue Gauthier. Payment kiosks are located at the main entrance and on the ground floor of the Saint-Charles Pavilion. The first two hours are free, with a maximum daily rate of approximately $7. A coupon booklet is available from the Security Service for frequent visitors. Street parking on surrounding roads including Rue Gauthier and Rue Blanchet is metered and paid from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Getting There

The hospital is served by local bus routes 200, 300, and 25, with nearby stops at Dessaulles/Bourdages Nord and Terminus Saint-Hyacinthe. VIA Rail also serves Saint-Hyacinthe station, providing intercity rail access for patients travelling from further afield.

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 ERstat’s estimates, built from what hospitals publish, or from our model where a hospital publishes no wait. They are not the hospital’s own figures. Actual waits may vary.

We check our accuracy every night against what hospitals later post. Forecasting two hours ahead, our estimate is typically off by 32 minutes. See the accuracy scorecard, or how we work the number out.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.