Quebec City seniors clinic helps reduce emergency room waits

Three geriatricians in Quebec City have opened a rapidaccess clinic designed to help older patients avoid long emergency room stays. The clinic offers semiurgent care for seniors who are referred by a family doctor or an ER, with common reasons including falls, cognitive decline and signs of dementia. The doctors say the model can shorten ER time by about 10 hours on average and provide a calmer setting for assessment and treatment. In the 2025–2026 year, the clinic treated 685 patients, above its target of 600, and the average wait for a first appointment was less than four days. Health Minister Sonia Bélanger praised the clinic and said she would like to see similar services created in other parts of Quebec. Emergency physician Marcel Émond also supported the approach, saying it helps seniors receive the right care sooner and may reduce the risks linked to prolonged ER stays.