Weekend walk-in clinics

Please be advised that the clinic now offers weekend walk-in clinics - open from 800 AM until 12 PM both Saturdays and Sundays. These clinics are for EMERGENCY consultations. If you are experiencing symptoms suggestive of a sexually transmitted illness (STI) you may benefit from the weekend walk-in services. If you have been advised by Public Health Authorities or a current/previous sexual contact of the possibility of an STI, you may also benefit from these services. If you a member of our Family Medicine Group (FMG) and are ill, you may also benefit from our weekend hours, all without an appointment. Please understand that long-standing medical conditions should be investigated during a regular appointment with your treating physician - call and book an appointment today.

Please be advised, that while the clinic has opened its doors, in an attempt to address your medical needs, the clinic remains first-come, first-served. The clinic reserves the right to refuse "late-comers" and those patients, who after initial screening or "triage" are not considered emergencies by the attending physician. While the walk-in clinic closes at noon - we have a limited number of places available during this emergency period - ARRIVE EARLY!

Appointments

As you can appreciate, appointments are ideal. With a scheduled appointment, you can expect to be seen by your physician within a reasonable time frame - at L' Actuel long waiting times are infrequent. In the event of an emergency consultation, i.e. you are experiencing abnormal symptoms, call us and we will attempt to schedule you with one of our experts (delays based on availability and the degree of urgency). Rest assured we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

We request that you present yourself 15 minutes prior to the time of your scheduled doctor visit such that your registration may be completed and your chart available on time. All in a concerted effort to reduce your waiting time.

In order to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, or in the event of an emergency please call us at : (514) 524-1001 (ext. 1, option 4).

Pre-visit checklist

Prior to your medical appointment with one of our physicians please ensure to follow these instructions carefully:

Please ensure that your Quebec Provincial Health Care Card (Carte du soleil) is valid, and not expired. Patients presenting with expired health-care coverage must reimburse for their examination and medical tests on the day of their visit. For information regarding temporary coverage, while waiting for your new/valid card please contact the RAMQ at or present directly to their offices at for a temporary attestation.

You do not need to be fasting for the purpose of STD testing. Go ahead and eat!!

If you are male, it is important to refrain from urination for two hours prior to your appointment. Chlamydia testing is now performed on a simple urine test (no more painful Q-tips in the urethra - Great news!!) For the test results to be reliable this two hour window is important.

If you are female, it is important to try to schedule your appointment between your menstrual periods. This being said, the tests can be performed in two steps on two different visits if your menses arrive unexpected (blood tests can be undertaken, regardless). If you are making an appointment for the treatment of external genital warts and your menses arrive, the use of a tampon will permit your physician to treat you and thus avoid treatment delays.

Please be informed that all necessary tests will be complete before your departure from L' Actuel. Your laboratory specimens will be drawn/taken by your physician and/or our laboratory technician and will thus save you the hastle of a second appointment at a hospital test center. In order that we may continue to offer this "one-stop service" , a charge of 20.00$ for the transport and manipulation of your specimens is billed prior to your departure from the clinic.

Please be advised that the results of your HIV test are always transmitted in person with your consulting physician. You will be expected to book a follow-up appointment with your doctor - typically three weeks after your test date. Book it right after your tests, you will have a better chance of ensuring the date and time that suits you best!

***Rapid HIV testing is now available: The rapid HIV blood test can provide you with your HIV test results within 30 minutes! It is important to note that the window period, ie. the time since your last "sexual contact at risk" and testing should be three months for results to be valid/reliable. In addition, you make select the use of Biron laboratories for your other sexually transmitted illness test results (costs not reimbursed by the province). If you have private health-care insurance, such costs may be reimbursed in part or in full - it is your responsibility to verify if you wish to take advantage of private, rapid test results.

Please be advised that certain treatment costs are covered by the provincial health care program via the public health department(i.e. treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea). Certain treatment costs remain the responsibility of the patient (i.e. liquid nitrogen/cryotherapy for genital warts). Cryotherapy costs 10.00$ per treatment per visit. Please come prepared!

Please be advised that the time scheduled for appointment is very valuable - Access to medical care requires your collaboration - If you must cancel your appointment, please ensure a minimum of 24 hours notice. Please call 524-1001, extension 1, option 1. Failure to comply with a 24 hour cancellation notice will incur a $20 cancellation fee. Thank-you for your comprehension and collaboration.