Right of refusal
Paramedic ambulance technicians cannot impose ambulance transportation on anyone.
If they deem it necessary for a person to be
transported by ambulance and that person
refuses transport, paramedics must inform the
person of their health condition and the consequences of refusing transport. If the decision
to refuse transport is maintained, the individual must sign a “Refuse transportation form”.
In this case, no charge will be billed.
Please note, however, that under the Act respecting the protection of persons whose mental state presents a danger to themselves or
to others, and under specific conditions, peace
officers may take a person against their will to
a hospital facility so they can be provided with
appropriate health care required by their condition. As such, peace officers may request ambulance transportation on behalf of this person.
Ambulance
transportation,
it’s not
a free ride.
Amb
ulan
it’s ce
not tra
a f n sp
re
e ort
rid a
e
,
n
tio
Complaints
A person who is unsatisfied with ambulance
services provided may lodge a formal complaint with the regional commissioner in charge
of complaints at the Agence de la santé et des
services sociaux des Laurentides, by calling
450 432-8708.
For more information
Visit our websites :
www.santelaurentides.qc.ca
www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/sujets/organisation/
services_ambulanciers.php
Or contact us : 450 436-8622
1000 Labelle St., Suite 210
Saint-Jérôme (Québec) J7Z 5N6
Phone: 450 436-8622
Fax: 450 432-8712
What you must know
about ambulance services
Q&A
Who pays for ambulance
transportation?
How much does it cost?
For Quebec residents :
Any transportation by ambulance to a hospital or
medical care facility will be billed to the person
riding in the ambulance, even if the request or call
for an ambulance was made by another person.
There are exception measures
for residents of Québec
The Government of Québec assumes the total cost
of ambulance transportation if a person meets any
of the following criteria :
$125.00 (base rate for pickup)
+
$1.75 per traveled kilometre
These rates were effective as of July 30th, 2011 and
may be subject to an annual indexation.
•A person injured in a work-related accident;
The Government of Québec assumes the major
portion of costs associated to ambulance transportation. Any fees charged to the user account for only
a small portion of the real costs of transportation
by ambulance.
•A person being moved from one health-care
and social services facility to another;
Check your insurance policy
•A person injured in a road accident;
•A person 65 or over whose transportation
is deemed a medical necessity.
Group or personal insurance policies often cover
ambulance transportation costs. Check with your
insurance provider about your policy’s coverage.
The Government of Canada assumes some ambulance
transportation costs, such as :
•For members of the Canadian Forces;
•For Canadian veterans;
•For Native and Inuit residents registered
on a reserve;
•For inmates of a correctional facility.
The
number to
remember
To call for an ambulance, simply dial 9-1-1
wherever you are in Québec. The emergency
dispatcher will relay your call to the nearest
ambulance service provider.
How long does it take for the ambulance
to arrive once we place the call?
The elapsed time between the emergency call
and the arrival of the ambulance will vary depending on the priority level of the situation.
This assessment is made by the emergency
dispatcher who picks up the call and questions
the caller to determine the urgency of the call.
This is why it is very important to answer the
dispatcher’s questions as clearly and calmly as
possible.
Is a person treated more quickly when
they arrive by ambulance?
No. The emergency care facility handles patients based on the severity of their condition. Patients arriving by ambulance will not
be treated more quickly if their condition is
stable and if another person having arrived by
another means is deemed more critical.
Can the user choose which hospital facility
they want to be transported to?
The user’s preference is taken into account.
However, other factors must also be considered
such as the patient’s condition, the distance,
the specific services offered by the hospital and
the emergency’s patient capacity at that facility.
If a person is picked up in a public facility (restaurant, shopping centre, etc.),
are they responsible for the cost of ambulance transportation?
Yes. The person using the ambulance is accountable for the cost of transportation unless this
user meets the criteria in one of the abovementioned exception measures.