HÔPITAL NOTRE-DAME-DE-FATIMA

Best Times to Visit

About HÔPITAL NOTRE-DAME-DE-FATIMA

Hôpital Notre-Dame-de-Fatima is the central health institution for the Kamouraska region, operating a 24/7 emergency department with 7 functional stretchers and providing first- and second-line acute care to La Pocatière and surrounding communities. As a CHSGS facility within the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent network, it offers a broad range of general and specialized services including surgery, gynecology, radiology, and oncology. Patients requiring highly specialized interventions such as complex cardiac surgery or major trauma care may be referred to larger centres within the regional health network.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, General Surgery, Gynecology, Pneumology, Radiology, Mammography, Ultrasound (including obstetric), Electrophysiology, Inhalotherapy, Laboratory and Blood Draw Services, Oncology / Chemotherapy, Palliative Care, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy (Adults/Seniors), Nutrition Counselling, Sleep Disorder Clinic, Smoking Cessation Services, ITSS Screening, Sexual Assault Victim Services, CLSC Services (Pavillon Cécile-Malenfant).

Amenities

• On-site paid parking
• Palliative care family lounge and kitchenette
• CLSC services in connected Pavillon Cécile-Malenfant
• GMF de Kamouraska family medicine group on-site
• Contact hospital at 418-856-7000 to confirm cafeteria, ATM, pharmacy, or 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

• The emergency department has only 7 stretchers — for non-urgent matters, consider calling your family physician through the GMF de Kamouraska to avoid longer waits.
• Call ahead at 418-856-7000 if you are unsure whether your condition requires emergency care or could be handled at the connected CLSC Les Aboiteaux.
• Bring cash or a payment card for the parking lot — payment is handled at the exit terminal near 6e Avenue and 12e Rue.
• If you require highly specialized care such as neurosurgery, complex cardiac intervention, or major trauma treatment, be aware you may be stabilized and transferred to a larger CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent facility.
• Weekday mid-morning visits after the morning rush tend to be quieter in smaller regional hospitals — if your condition is non-urgent, timing your visit can reduce wait times.

What to Bring

• Provincial health insurance card (RAMQ card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical history documents or recent test results
• Emergency contact information
• Payment method for parking
• Comfortable clothing and a warm layer (waiting areas can be cool)
• Snacks and water for potentially longer waits

Parking

The hospital has an on-site paid parking lot with a gatehouse at the entrance and a payment terminal at the exit. The parking exit is located at the intersection of 6e Avenue and 12e Rue. Contact the hospital at 418-856-7000 for current rates and accessibility parking details.

Getting There

La Pocatière is a small regional municipality and no specific public transit routes serving the hospital have been confirmed. Patients are advised to arrange private transportation or contact the hospital at 418-856-7000 for transportation assistance options.

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.