Quebec to test virtual waiting room and teleconsultation pilots to ease emergency room crowding
Quebec will pilot a virtual waiting room and expanded teleconsultation services to reduce emergency department crowding and speed patient care across the province.
The Quebec government announced two pilot projects on Friday aimed at transforming access to health services and limiting overcrowding in emergency departments. The first test will introduce a virtual waiting room at the Centre hospitalier régional de Lanaudière so patients triaged as non-urgent can return home while keeping their place for assessment. A complementary pilot will offer online medical evaluations to divert avoidable visits, with services routed through 811 and the provincial digital portal Votre santé.
Announcement made in Joliette
The projects were unveiled at a news conference in Joliette by Premier Christine Fréchette alongside Health Minister Sonia Bélanger. Officials said the measures respond to longstanding pressure on hospital emergency departments across Quebec. The government presented the pilots as tools to match patients with more appropriate care pathways while freeing hospital resources for higher-priority cases.
How the virtual waiting room will operate
Under the virtual waiting room model, patients who complete triage and are deemed non-urgent will be able to go home and await a remote notification that preserves their position in line. Health teams will track patients electronically and recall them for in-person assessment when capacity and clinical priority permit. The province emphasized that the system is designed to maintain continuity and safety, not replace in-person care for urgent needs.
Teleconsultation pilot to reduce non-urgent visits
The second pilot will allow patients to receive a medical evaluation online from a clinician, with the aim of resolving issues that do not require emergency department resources. Consultations will be made available through 811 and the Votre santé portal, enabling a single entry point for callers and online users. Officials said combining virtual triage with teleconsultation should reduce unnecessary in-person visits and redirect patients to appropriate community or follow-up services.
Where and when the pilots will run
Lanaudière was chosen for the initial small-scale deployment and will host both the virtual waiting room and the teleconsultation trial. The teleconsultation model will also be tested in the Capitale-Nationale region to broaden operational learning. Quebec’s government set an expected service launch by the end of 2026, and said procurement processes and calls for proposals are currently being prepared.
Capacity pressures and policy context
Health Minister Sonia Bélanger highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting Quebec’s emergency departments receive about 3.8 million visits annually and that nearly half involve non-urgent or semi-urgent cases. The pilots are part of a campaign promise by Premier Fréchette first proposed in March to tackle emergency room congestion. Officials described the pilots as one element in a broader strategy to optimize care pathways and reduce inappropriate emergency use.
Support for seniors and technology access
Local health network leaders, including Philippe Éthier of the Lanaudière health network, committed to providing assistance for patients less comfortable with digital tools. Officials said support will include help at hospital sites, outreach through community organizations, and accommodations for seniors to ensure the technology does not create barriers to care. The government stressed that equity of access is a core consideration as the province develops digital health offerings.
Quebec’s announcement signals a move to blend digital tools with traditional emergency services, seeking to streamline patient flow and concentrate hospital resources on the most serious cases. The pilots in Lanaudière and Capitale-Nationale will be closely watched for evidence on safety, accessibility and impact on emergency department volumes ahead of any wider rollout.
