Primary Care Access Point (GAP)

This service allows orphan patients (people without family doctors) to have access to a better assessment of their specific physical and mental health needs so that they can be referred to a health professional who can manage these needs.

Consult the Digital Primary Line Access Desk
The digital Primary Care Access Desk (GAP) directs you to the resources that can best meet your health needs. 

The digital GAP provides you with information on the following topics: 

• Renewing a prescription; 
• Obtaining a form; 
• Flu, cold, COVID-19 and gastroenteritis symptoms 
• Family planning (pregnancy, contraception and infertility); 
• Mental disorders; 
• Sampling; 
• Testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs); 
• Vaccination. 
• Other services will be added in the coming months, including online appointment scheduling. 

What is the Primary care access point (GAP)? 

Orphan patients who call the Primary Care Access Desk (GAP) are referred to a health professional who can meet their specific physical or mental health needs while waiting for care by a family doctor.

In order to be cared for by a family doctor, the patient must be registered with the Québec Family Doctor Finder (GAMF) in the region. 

Orphan patients who call the GAP will therefore be registered with the GAMF if this is not already the case. 

Who can access the services of the Frontline Access Desk? 

This counter is only for people who do not have a dedicated family doctor. 

You must also be registered with the region's Family Doctor Finder (GAMF) to access these services. 

You can submit your application online to the GAMF or update your profile at the Registering with a family doctor 

How do I register with a family doctor? 

Registration with a family doctor is done through the Family Doctor Access Desk (GAMF). This platform was set up to provide the entire population with access to a family doctor.

You can submit your application online to the Family Doctor Access Desk (GAMF). 

Once you have registered at the counter, your application will be analyzed and a priority code will be assigned based on your state of health. It is impossible to predict how long it will take for you to be cared for by a family doctor. The timeframe may vary depending on the number of people on the list and the availability of doctors in our area. 

While waiting for a family doctor to take care of you, you can call the Primary Care Access Desk (GAP) for any specific physical or mental health needs. Your GAMF priority code will be updated when you call the GAP. 

If your health deteriorates while waiting for a referral to a doctor, it is your responsibility to inform staff who will reassess your priority. 

Eligibility Criteria for GAMF Registration 

• You must have a valid health insurance card; 
• You must not already be registered with a family doctor; 
• You must live at the address currently indicated in your file with the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). If this is not the case, it is then possible to make a change of address online through the Service québécois de changement d'adresse; 
• You must be over 14 years old. If you are under 14 years of age, then another person over the age of 14 must register you; 
• Your home must be located in Quebec and your postal code must be listed by Canada Post; 
• You must not live in the Nunavik or James Bay Cree Lands regions. Physicians in these regions cannot register patients.

What happens when I call the Frontline Access Desk? 

The GAP team is made up of administrative officers and clinical nurses who are specially trained to assess the specific physical or mental health needs of orphan patients. 

Some punctual needs can be solved right away, while others will be referred to the right professional at the right time while waiting for them to be taken care of by a family doctor. Orphan patients may be referred or referred to: 

• A GMF for a medical appointment; 
• An access desk from the CISSS de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue; 
• Info-Santé or Info-Social; 
• A community pharmacy; 
• A community organization; 
• Etc. 

What is an orphan patient? 

An orphan patient is a person who is not registered with the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) by a family physician. 

The patient remains an orphan as long as a physician has not registered with the RAMQ, even if he or she has consulted the same physician several times. 

In case of emergency 

Please note that the Primary Care Desk is not an emergency line. In the event of a serious problem or urgent need, it is important to call 911 or go directly to the emergency room. 

How do I get an appointment with a medical specialist? 

To get an appointment with a specialist, you will need to have your condition confirmed by a family doctor. They are the ones who have the skills to refer you to the right professional. 

Here is an overview of the medical specialties available in Abitibi-Témiscamingue : https://www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca/specialites-medicales-accessibles-en-abitibi-temiscamingue/ 

Medical Clinics 

In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, family doctors practice in some twenty medical clinics throughout the country. Some medical clinics have banded together to form Family Medicine Groups (FMGs). A family medicine group is a group of physicians who work closely with nurses and other health care professionals. 

The main objectives of a GMF are to: 

• Provide the public with better access to a family doctor; 
• Improve the delivery of medical care, the quality and organization of front-line services; 
• Ensure better accessibility, care and continuity of services for registrants; 
• Develop a link of complementarity and partnership with institutions in the health and social services network. 

If you are looking for a medical clinic, visit the Health and Wellness Portal - Find a resource 

To learn more about family medicine groups, visit the website of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, in the Organization of Services section. 

Organization of Services - Health | Government of Quebec (quebec.ca) 

Frequently Asked Questions 

If you have any questions or comments about the Primary Line Access Desk, you can send your request to: 08.cisssat.gap@ssss.gouv.qc.ca