Mcgill University Health Centre - Montréal Chest Institute

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: The Montréal Chest Institute has no emergency department, so there is no wait to check here. For an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department; for health advice, call Info-Santé at 811. Visits to MCI clinics are by referral and appointment.

Busier times: Do not come to the Montréal Chest Institute for emergency care: it has no emergency department. For an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. For clinic appointments, avoid rush hour if possible, as parking and transit access near the Glen Site can be congested.

About MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE - MONTRÉAL CHEST INSTITUTE

The Montréal Chest Institute (MCI), part of the McGill University Health Centre at the Glen Site in Montréal, QC, is a specialized adult hospital dedicated to the investigation, treatment, and research of pulmonary and respiratory diseases. It has no emergency department of its own; its specialized respiratory care is supported by intensive care, ambulatory clinics, and a multidisciplinary team including respirologists, infectious disease specialists, and physiotherapists. For an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department; for health advice, call Info-Santé at 811.

Services & Specialties

No emergency department (specialized respiratory care, by referral), Respiratory intensive care unit (ICU), Mechanical ventilation weaning and non-invasive ventilation, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care, Asthma diagnosis and treatment, Tuberculosis investigation and treatment, Cystic fibrosis program, Lung cancer diagnosis and management, Sleep disorder assessment, Pulmonary function testing including exercise testing, Neuromuscular respiratory disorders program, Quebec National Program for Home Ventilatory Assistance, Tobacco Treatment and Smoking Cessation Clinic, Respiratory therapy, Long-term respiratory care, MUHC adult emergency department elsewhere on the Glen Site (not part of the MCI), Medical imaging (on-site), Ambulatory and outpatient respiratory clinics.

Amenities

• Cafeteria on level S1 of Block C (Glen Site)
• Food and retail services within the Glen Site complex
• Bilingual services in French and English
• Wheelchair and stretcher accessible entrance
• Comfortable waiting areas

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

• The Montréal Chest Institute has no emergency department. For an emergency, including severe breathing problems, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. For health advice, call Info-Santé at 811.
• Follow the red ramp from Boulevard Décarie and look for 'URGENCE / EMERGENCY' signs to reach the emergency drop-off area quickly without navigating the full parking complex.
• If you do not have a valid Quebec health insurance card (RAMQ), you will be billed directly for services and must pay all fees before your appointment — bring a credit card or payment method.
• Vendôme Station's underground tunnel provides a convenient, weather-protected route to the hospital — a major advantage during Montréal winters.
• The MCI provides specialized respiratory care by referral and appointment, not walk-in emergency care; do not come here expecting to be seen for an emergency.

What to Bring

• Quebec health insurance card (RAMQ card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of all current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical records, recent test results, or imaging
• Credit card or payment method (required if no valid RAMQ card)
• Phone charger or portable battery pack
• Comfortable clothing and a warm layer (waiting areas can be cool)
• Snacks and water for potentially long wait times

Parking

Parking is available at the MUHC Glen Site via Boulevard Décarie, with both underground (P1) and surface lots. There are 38 accessible spaces for vehicles with a handicap permit on the P1 level. To reach the emergency department, follow the red ramp from Boulevard Décarie and look for 'URGENCE / EMERGENCY' signage — a dedicated drop-off area is reserved for ER visitors. Payment is accepted by cash, credit, or debit at automated machines on each level or at the parking customer service desk on the RC level. Frequent visitor passes are available for outpatients attending at least 10 times per month. Rates are updated each April 1st per Quebec government schedule.

Getting There

The MUHC Glen Site is directly connected to Vendôme Station via a 35-metre underground tunnel, linking the hospital to both the Montréal Metro network and three commuter rail lines: Saint-Jérôme, Candiac, and Vaudreuil-Hudson. Multiple STM bus routes also serve the area. Cyclists have access to reserved bike paths connecting to the Décarie and de Maisonneuve Boulevard bike paths, with 330 bike racks on site.

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.

This hospital does not publish a live wait, so the figure above comes from our model rather than from its own feed. We publish how that model performs where it can be checked, at the hospitals that do publish. See the accuracy scorecard, or how we work the number out.

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