MONTREAL-The Jewish General Hospital in Montreal has introduced a new virtual care system to reduce long wait times in hospital emergency departments. Through Quebec’s first-ever ‘Virtual Urgent Care’ initiative, eligible patients can access doctor consultations via video calls from the comfort of their homes.
This service is available to residents of the Island of Montreal who are 18 years of age and older. It covers health issues requiring urgent attention but not immediate hospitalization—such as back pain, minor burns, skin allergies, eye inflammation, and mild fever.
Through video appointments, doctors can prescribe medications and refer patients for blood tests or X-rays. However, for severe conditions such as chest pain, shortness of breath, severe abdominal pain, or stroke symptoms, immediate emergency medical care is required. In such cases, patients should call 911 or go to the nearest hospital in Canada.
Dr. Joel Turner, Chief of the Emergency Department at the hospital, stated that the new system will help reduce hospital overcrowding and prioritize critically ill patients. With around 10,000 people visiting emergency rooms daily across Quebec, the new program is expected to offer significant relief.
Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Bookings can be made through the hospital’s website or via a nurse through the Info-Santé 811 service. If successful, authorities plan to expand the project to other regions of Quebec.
