{"id":31110,"date":"2026-01-09T08:36:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T13:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/?page_id=31110"},"modified":"2026-01-09T08:36:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T13:36:48","slug":"alternatives-to-the-emergency","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/en\/alternatives-to-the-emergency\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternatives to the emergency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The emergency room isn't the best option for everyone. If you have a non-urgent problem, choose one of the alternatives to the emergency room available in your area and avoid unnecessary waiting times.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What are the alternative options to the emergency room?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Health Info\/Social Info 811<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/en\/info-sante-info-social-811\/\">Info-Sant\u00e9\/Info-Social 811 line <\/a>for tips and advice. If your situation requires a consultation, the nursing staff will be able to inform you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pharmacies<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ask your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/pharmacies-communautaires\/\">pharmacist for advice <\/a>. Local pharmacists are mandated to maintain the overall health of their patients and they can treat certain conditions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare professionals<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional and get care in the right place at the right time. Please note that the procedure for obtaining an appointment on short notice varies depending on your situation.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><u>If you have a family doctor <\/u>: call your medical clinic or your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/cliniques-medicales-et-groupes-de-medecine-familiale-gmf-et-gmf-u\/\">family medicine group <\/a>(GMF).<\/li>\n<li><u>If you do not have a family doctor <\/u>, submit a consultation request to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/sante\/trouver-une-ressource\/guichet-acces-premiere-ligne\">Primary Care Access Point <\/a>(PCAP). A staff member will refer you to the appropriate professional.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To discover all the health services available to the public, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/en\/make-an-appointment\/\">Appointments and Telehealth page <\/a>. To find the contact information for a facility, consult the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/en\/list-of-facilities\/\">facility directory <\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Tools to monitor your symptoms and assess the severity of your health problem<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Before seeking help from a healthcare professional, learn about the symptoms to watch for related to your health condition.<\/p>\n<p>To do this, consult the following pages and tools regarding some common health problems:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/prendre-soin-de-son-enfant-malade-comment-savoir-si-la-situation-est-urgente-ou-non\/\">Sick child<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/allergies.pdf\">Allergic reaction<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/constipation.pdf\">Constipation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/coupure.pdf\">Cut and wound<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/detressepsy.pdf\">Psychological distress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/douleur-en-urinant.pdf\">Pain when urinating<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/entorse.pdf\">Sprain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/epuisement.pdf\">Exhaustion<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/etourdissement.pdf\">Dizziness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/fievre.pdf\">Fever<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/gastro.pdf\">Gastro<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/grippe-covid-virus-resp.pdf\">Flu, COVID, respiratory virus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/maldos.pdf\">Back pain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/malgorge.odf\">Sore throat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/maltete.pdf\">Headache<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/malyeux.pdf\">Eye pain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/nausee.pdf\">Nausea and vomiting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/partage\/URGENCE\/toux.pdf\">Cough<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca\/msss\/fichiers\/2024\/24-294-01F.pdf\">Decision support: respiratory diseases and gastroenteritis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more information about the emergency room, visit the pages <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/en\/before-going-to-the-emergency-room\/\">Before You Go to the Emergency Room <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisss-at.gouv.qc.ca\/en\/emergency\/\">The Emergency Room and How It Works <\/a>. If your life is in danger or your condition is serious, call 911 immediately or go to the emergency room.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The emergency room isn&#8217;t the best option for everyone. If you have a non-urgent problem, choose one of the alternatives to the emergency room available in your area and avoid unnecessary waiting times. 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