Coronavirus (COVID-19)
You have an appointment or a treatment scheduled?
If you are scheduled to come to the hospital for an appointment, a test or a treatment, you will be called up to 24h prior to your appointment time.
- During the call, you will be informed if your appointment is postponed or maintained. You will be also be informed if your appointment will be in person, or over the phone.
- If you will be coming in person to the hospital for your appointment, you will be screened during the call for COVID symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, nasal congestion and runny nose.
- If your appointment is by phone, your doctor will call you on the day of your appointment, unless otherwise specified.
On the day of the appointment (if in person) :
- You must call back the clinic if you have one or more of the COVID symptoms.
- When you arrive at the hospital entrance, you will be asked again about COVID symptoms.
- If you answer yes to any of the questions, your physicians or health care professional will be consulted to establish:
- If your appointment is maintained or should be postponed
- If you should be tested for COVID
All patients, helpers and caregivers will be required to wear a mask or face covering upon arrival at the hospital triage station.
For your safety and the safety of our patients and staff, we count on your honesty when responding to our screening questions. This allows our staff to make the necessary arrangements to ensure everyone’s safety.
If you have not been called or have concerns about your coming appointment, please call the clinic directly.
Please note that calls may appear as “Non-ID” or ‘Private Caller’. It is important that your phone is programmed to receive such calls in order to receive a call from the hospital.
What to expect when coming to the MUHC
To patients, helpers and caregivers: Instructions for wearing a mask inside the MUHC
As of May 12, all patients, helpers and caregivers will be required to wear a mask or face covering upon arrival at the hospital triage station. A mask will be given to those who are not wearing one. However, a helper, attendant or caregivers who presents symptoms of COVID-19 or who has been exposed to a person with COVID-19 will not be allowed to go to the patient's bedside or accompany the patient to an appointment.
The mask must be worn at all times, except when these persons are in a closed room AND provided that they respect the two-metre distance at all times.
Mask wearing instructions for healthcare workers and MUHC staff remain the same. They must wear a procedure mask at all times when working within two metres of other individuals.
New visiting restrictions
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve, the McGill University Health Centre is taking additional precautions to prevent transmission of the virus in its facilities by temporarily suspending all visits to patients in hospitals and Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion (CHSLD). Some exceptions apply.
Adult hospitals
- No visitors will be permitted.
- Patients coming for a visit to a clinic, a test or a treatment, and pregnant women:
- One (1) caregiver can accompany a patient
Lachine Hospital and Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion
- No visitors will be permitted
- Patients coming for a visit to a clinic, a test or a treatment:
- One (1) caregiver can accompany a patient
Montreal Children's Hospital:
- Two parents or one caregiver will be permitted to be with their admitted child (although one is preferred), provided that they strictly adhere to these rules.
- Children coming for a visit to a clinic, a test or a treatment
- One (1) adult (parent or caregiver) can accompany a child with exceptions. Click here for more information.
Restricted hospital entrances
In order to provide a safe environment for patients and staff we are restricting access to the hospital. Patients should arrive early to avoid being delayed by the triage process at the entrance and use the doors listed below:
Glen site
- Adult (Bloc C/Bloc D): S1 and RC (ground floor) entrances
- Montreal Children’s Hospital (Bloc A/Bloc B): S1 and RC (ground floor) entrances
- Cedars Cancer Centre entrance
- Adult and Pediatric Emergency Department entrances on S1 level (for emergencies only)
Montreal General Hospital
- Cedar Avenue entrance
- Parking entrance
- Livingston entrance on Cedar Avenue (L6) is reserved for dialysis patients only
- Emergency Department entrance (for emergencies only)
Lachine Hospital
- Emergency entrance
The Neuro
- Main entrance 3801 University
- Reduced mobility entrance beside the main entrance
Screening for symptoms at the door
Patients coming to the hospital for an appointment, a test or a treatment will be greeted at the door by a triage team. The following questions will be asked:
- In the last 7 days, have you had a new onset of one or more of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, nasal congestion + runny nose, vomiting (children)?
- In the last 14 days, did you have contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19?
If you answer yes to one of the two questions you will be given a mask and can proceed to your appointment.
COVID-19 Useful links
COVID-19 Guidelines for families
Guidelines for families returning home with a diagnosis of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection
Government of Québec
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Québec
- Situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Québec
- Info-Social Information Line 811
- COVID‑19 information line, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: 1 877 644‑4545
- Santé Montréal : Coronavirus COVID-19
- COVID-19 – Publication du Guide autosoins (available in french)
Resources for health professional
- Directives cliniques aux professionnels et au réseau pour la COVID-19 : New, regularly updated MSSS site for health professionals containing the latest ministerial orientations and directives.
Government of Canada
- Novel Coronavirus infection: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Government of Canada COVID‑19 information line: 1 833‑784‑4397
Travel Advice and Advisories
Do you have a medical imaging test (x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine, PET) scheduled ?
If you were given your medical imaging appointment before March 12 (when the coronavirus crisis was declared), you will be called to confirm your appointment.
Appointments are given on a priority basis. If you were given an appointment after March 12, this means that your appointment has been prioritized, and confirmation is not required.
COVID-19 Frequently asked questions
Cancer patients have immunocompromised systems and all measures must be taken to protect them from acquiring viruses or infections. To protect our patients, caregivers can no longer accompany patients to the Cedar Cancer Centre (some exceptions apply).
Please ask your caregiver to drop you off directly at the Cedar Cancer Centre entrance.
Exceptionally, patients who are receiving a new diagnosis or who are undergoing their first treatment may be accompanied.
We recognize that these temporary measures can be an inconvenience and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to protect our patients, families and staff. Thank you for helping to keep our community healthy.
Opal is an integrated application that allows you to manage your appointments, check- in when you arrive at the hospital and receive a notification when you are being called for your appointment. This is proving to be very useful during the COVID-19 pandemic as it enables patients to spend less time in the waiting room.
Please ask your clinical team for the registration procedure or speak to the receptionists at the Radiation Oncology Reception at DS1
You can download Opal in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
Yes, it is possible. Depending on the reason or urgency of your appointment, your healthcare professional will assess your needs. If your physician recommends a telephone or virtual consultation, the clinic will provide you with the necessary information. Clinical teams have tools to set-up remote consultations. If necessary, it is also possible to set-up a virtual appointment with your health professional using your computer, tablet or smart phone.
Cancelled patients are put on a waiting list and will be rescheduled by priority by the Medical Imaging Appointment Centre.
During delivery and the subsequent postpartum stay:
- A second parent or dedicated person will be permitted to remain present provided that there is no risk of COVID-19 infection.
- The second parent or dedicated person can stay with the mother during her stay, but must respect various policies, including confinement to the room.
- During follow-up appointments with pregnant women, including spouses, children and other family members.
- During cesarean deliveries: no second parent or dedicated person can enter the operating room.
Everyone who enters an MUHC hospital is triaged at the entrance. You will be asked if you have a new onset of one or more of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion + runny nose
- Vomiting (children)
The clinic should have already contacted you to inform you if your appointment is postponed or not. If developed COVID symptoms between the time you are called and the day of your appointment, please make sure you notify the clinic.
IMPORTANT
All patients and employees who enter an MUHC hospital are triaged at the entrance. You will be asked if you have a new onset of one or more of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion + runny nose
- Vomiting (children)
A virtual consultation (teleconsultation) allows you to reach your healthcare professional remotely using a secure application (“Zoom Télésanté” or “Reacts”), which is approved by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. When the clinic or your physician confirms that a teleconsultation is possible, you will be asked to provide your consent. The clinic will then email you a guide on how to join your virtual session. To ensure that your teleconsult runs smoothly, please consult the "Patient Toolkit" prior to your appointment:
Zoom: http://telesantemcgill.ca/zoom/patients-toolkit-fr.html
Reacts: https://telesantechum.ca/guidereacts/patients-toolkit-fr.html
Please make sure your computer/tablet/smart phone is equipped with a camera, microphone, speakers (or headset) and that your internet connection is reliable.
Just like an in-person visit to the hospital, health professionals are required to document their clinical notes and file them in your MUHC medical record.
Only if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID in the last 14 days.
The McGill University Health Centre recognizes and appreciates the positive impact caregivers have on the mental and physical health of their loved ones. We are therefore pleased to announce that as of May 11, 2020, subject to specific conditions, significant caregivers will be able to provide support to residents of the Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion (CLP) of the Lachine Hospital.
In order to ensure the protection of our residents and their caregivers as well as our staff, it is essential to take all necessary precautions to avoid the transmission of infections. We have therefore established recommended measures for access to the Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include :
- Access to the CLP
- Preparing for the first visit
- Signing a consent form
- Compliance with infection control and movement instructions within the CLP
- Steps to follow when leaving
- Behaviours to adopt outside the CLP
- Recommended Measures for Access to Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion during the COVID-19 Pandemic (in French)
- APPENDIX 1: Grid for Self-Monitoring Symptoms (in French)
- Consent Form for Caregivers Supporting a Family Member in a homelike environment in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic (in French)
- Video: Recommended measures for access - Dr. Charles Frenette
During delivery and the subsequent postpartum stay:
- A second parent or dedicated person will be permitted to remain present provided that there is no risk of COVID-19 infection.
- The second parent or dedicated person can stay with the mother during her stay, but must respect various policies, including confinement to the room.
- During follow-up appointments with pregnant women, including spouses, children and other family members.
- During cesarean deliveries: no second parent or dedicated person can enter the operating room.
Access to hospital sites is currently restricted. Please use the following entrances:
Glen site
Adult (Bloc C/Bloc D): S1 and RC (ground floor) entrances
Montreal Children’s Hospital (Bloc A/Bloc B): S1 and RC (ground floor) entrances
Cedars Cancer Centre entrance
Adult and Pediatric Emergency Department entrances on S1 level (for emergencies only)
Montreal General Hospital
Cedar Avenue entrance
Parking entrance
Livingston entrance on Cedar Avenue (L6) is reserved for dialysis patients only
Emergency Department entrance (for emergencies only)
Lachine Hospital
Emergency entrance
The Neuro
Main entrance 3801 University
Reduced mobility entrance beside the main entrance
Everyone will be screened upon entering. Please arrive early to avoid being delayed at the entrance.
The MUHC is taking additional precautions to prevent transmission of the virus causing COVID-19 in its facilities by temporarily suspending all visits to patients in hospitals and at the Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion (CHSLD). Some exceptions apply.
We recognize that these temporary measures can be an inconvenience and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to protect our patients, families and staff. Thank you for helping to keep our community healthy.
All MUHC sites
- Patients coming for a visit to a clinic, a test or a treatment, and pregnant women:
- One (1) caregiver can accompany a patient
- No visitors at the Camille-Lefebvre Pavilion (CHSLD)
- Patients coming for a visit to a clinic, a test or a treatment:
- One (1) caregiver can accompany a patient
- Two parents or one caregiver will be permitted to visit a child.
- Children coming for a visit to a clinic, a test or a treatment
- One (1) parent or one (1) caregiver can accompany a child
To contact a patient who is admitted:
1) Dial 514 934-1934
2) Press 3
3) Ask the operator for the room number
We kindly as that families designate one person to act as spokesperson.
As we all know, family and friend support is important to the health and well-being of our patients. In order to assist hospitalized patients who do not have access to a personal electronic device or are unable to use their electronic device, the MUHC has launched a Communication Assistance Service. For more information, please click here. To call a patient who is admitted:
- Dial 514 934-1934
- Press 3
- Ask the operator for the room number
- Dial 514 934-1934
- Press 3
- Ask to be connected to the patient's care unit
In order to assist hospitalized patients who do not have access to a personal electronic deviceor are unable to use their electronic device, the MUHC has launched a Communication Assistance Service. A dedicated team of employees is available to help patients connect with their loved ones using a hospital tablet or telephone. This call assistance service is available on all adult patient care units across the MUHC (Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal Neurological Hospital and Lachine Hospital).
If you want to contact your loved one via the use of an electronic device, please call one of the numbers below and request an audio or video call. Be prepared to provide the following information: patient name and hospital/unit where they are admitted. It is possible to leave a message.
- Lachine Hospital: (514) 637-2351 ext. 77170
- All other Hospitals: (514)934-1934 ext. 34827
- The Communication Assistance Service is available Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Please note that there will be a delay of 24 to 48h between the time you make the request and the time the call is set up.
- Given available resources, calls are limited at this time to 1 or 2 per patient per week.
- Calls are limited to 15 minutes.
- To facilitate video call set up, we recommend that you install one of these Apps on your electronic device: WhatsApp or Google Duo. If you need assistance with application setup, let us know so that we can assist you.
- If you are planning to do a video call, it is best to connect to your home Wi-Fi, as this feature uses data.
Yes. All Test Centres are open, however hours have been modified.
- Glen Site
- 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Montreal General Hospital
- 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Lachine Hospital
- 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Montreal Children’s Hospital
- 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Yes. The Emergency Department at the Glen site, the Montreal General Hospital and Lachine Hospital are open.
However, we ask the public to come to the Emergency Department only if they require urgent hospital care.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect our patients and staff, no visitors are permitted in the adult Emergency Department at the moment (some exceptions apply).
We recognize that these temporary measures can be an inconvenience and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to protect our patients, families and staff. Thank you for helping to keep our community healthy.
At the Montreal Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, two (2) parents or one (1) caregiver are permitted to accompany a child.
To contact a patient who is in one of the MUHC Emergency Departments:
Dial 514 934-1934 followed by the extension for the specific hospital:
- Lachine Hospital Emergency – ext. 77101
- Montreal General Hospital Emergency – ext. 48090
- Montreal Neurological Hospital – ext. 881921
- Royal Victoria Hospital Emergency – ext. 31610
If you are worried about COVID‑19 or your child displays symptoms such as a cough or fever, you can call 514-644-4545 in the Montréal area, 450-644-4545 in the Montérégie region, 819-644-4545 in the Outaouais region and 1-877-644-4545 (toll free) elsewhere in Québec.
For more information, please visit www.quebec.ca/en/coronavirus.
We recognize that these temporary measures can be an inconvenience and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to protect our patients, families and staff. Thank you for helping to keep our community healthy.
For more information about the Montreal Children’s Hospital emergency care during the COVID-19 pandemic, please click here.
You will immediately be screened and asked if you have experienced the following symptoms in the last 7 days:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion + runny nose
- Vomiting (children)
Updates
CHAMPIONS in Occupational Therapy
When you speak from the heart, you use the language of CHAMPIONS. Jaclyn Stevenson, an occupational therapist, faced a language barrier with a patient on the COVID unit and reacted in a truly beautiful way. Colleague Kendra Berry saw what happened and was moved to write about it in an email to their mutual colleagues and supervisors:
“Today I witnessed something beautiful and heartwarming that I wanted to share. Jaclyn was performing a swallowing eval with a pt on the covid unit. There was a language barrier, so Jaclyn contacted the family and placed them on speaker phone. I believe this was the first contact that they had with the patient Their voices were filled with love, gratitude and relief. It brought tears to my eyes. Jaclyn, you gave them such a gift. On each of your units, your gestures are having positive impacts on patients and their families...”
Learn moreThe RVH ICU knows to expect the unexpected
Expect the unexpected. This mantra has allowed each member of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH-MUHC) to become the resilient people that they are. The past few weeks have thrown many challenges their way: new hires, more training and a complete revamp of the unit’s design. In spite of all that, in many ways, the team feels closer than before.
"From physicians to respiratory therapists, everyone came together," says Sylvie Ampleman, nurse manager of the RVH ICU. "It makes me very proud of my team."
Stepping out of their comfort zone and onto an entirely new Covid unit
Within the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), staff have been redeployed to meet the demands of COVID-19. Over the last few weeks, Dr. Kevin Schwartzman, director of the Division of Respiratory Medicine at the MUHC, and his colleagues have been devoted to ramping up capacity--in part by converting part of the Centre for Innovative Medicine at the Glen, a space usually reserved for research, into C4, a unit dedicated entirely to caring for patients with COVID-19...
Videos
THANK YOU: National Nursing Week 2020
Mrs. Benoit celebrates her 92nd birthday at the MUHC
Keeping patients and their families connected during the pandemic
Finding your wellness rituals during a challenging time
Wellness and mental health advice for healthcare staff
What you need to know about COVID-19 in Quebec - part II
What you need to know about COVID-19 in Quebec - Part I
Facebook live: Ask us anything : Coronavirus (COVID-19)
