I have never used Bonjour-santé. How do I search for an appointment?
When you go to the Bonjour-santé home page, you have two options. You can either click on the "Provincial system (Free)" button and follow the steps to search for an appointment with your family doctor or a walk-in appointment in 36 hours or less at a clinic in your area. You can also click on the blue “Discover the membership” button. By signing up to Bonjour-santé, you have free access to the appointment search engine (Provincial system) and you also have unlimited access to a host of complementary health services available exclusively to members.
These include:
Why am I being offered a consultation in a clinic located up to 70 km away from my house?
Our search engine uses the postal code you enter to search for a consultation in a clinic near you. If results only show a consultation in a clinic far away, this means no other consultation was available any closer.
Should the consultations offered to you not be suitable, remember that new availabilities can free up at any time. To that effect, you may want to try a new search later.
What can I do if I can't find an appointment during my search?
Bonjour-santé offers all users a free appointment search assistance service! If your clinic subscribes to this service, Bonjour-santé can take over and continue searching for an appointment with your family doctor for you if you were unable to find one during your appointment search.
For Bonjour-santé members, in addition to searching for them for appointments with their doctor, the search assistance service can search for them walk-in appointments within 36 hours at a clinic in their area!
As soon as we find an appointment that meets your criteria, we notify you by SMS, email and/or telephone.
How can I be sure that the consultation was booked under my name?
All information relevant to the booked appointment is detailed on the appointment confirmation page. You will also receive an email confirmation with all these details, as well as a reminder.
How do I cancel my appointment?
A link to cancel your appointment is included in your appointment confirmation as well as in the reminder sent by SMS or email (if you can't find this email, check your junk mail). It is very important to cancel your appointment if you are unable to attend. This only takes a few seconds and your availability can then be offered to another patient waiting to receive care.
I waited longer than expected at the clinic. Why?
Bonjour-santé offers a search engine for consultations. This means you can book a consultation based on the schedule and availabilities of the clinic at the time of your search. Bonjour-santé has no control over the clinics’ schedule management and despite our best efforts to predict the expected time for consultations, delays at the clinic are possible.
I am searching for a walk-in appointment at a clinic in my area but no availability was found. Why?
Bonjour-santé has no control over the availabilities posted by clinics. We recommend that you do a search early in the morning or in the evening for an appointment the following day. Also, know that cancellations occur every day and that these freed up appointments become available once again.
Also, with a Bonjour-santé membership, members have access to a revolutionary service that searches FOR THEM walk-in appointments within 36 hours at clinics in their area! If they cannot find an appointment during their online search, Bonjour-santé will take over and continue searching for them for a set period of time! When we find an appointment that meets their criteria, we notify them by text message, email and/or telephone.
Why do I have to pay for a membership to see a doctor? Isn’t that covered by the income taxes and other taxes I already pay?
Through the Bonjour-santé website, you can search for appointments for free at any time with your family doctor or walk-in appointments within 36 hours at a clinic in your area by choosing the "Provincial system" option. This service is free for everyone.
The Bonjour-santé membership offers members the option of searching for appointments (through the Provincial system) in addition to giving them unlimited access to a host of complementary services to meet all their health needs:
Can Bonjour-santé really save me waiting time?
Of course! The average waiting time in clinics using Bonjour-santé services has been reduced by 82%! By helping clinics organize their schedules, we successfully eliminated morning waiting lines. Patients are now calm and serene when they arrive at the clinic, and the average waiting time went from 246 minutes down to 45 minutes, with 80% of patients waiting less than 75 minutes. We make it our mission to continue to improve healthcare access!
It is possible to register more than one person for the same consultation?
A consultation is only valid for one person. Once you’re registered, you can contact the clinic and ask whether the doctor would accept seeing more than one patient at that time.
How does the reminder call work?
You will receive a reminder call 60 to 90 minutes before your consultation. Please come to the clinic even if you miss the call.
Can I search for a next-day consultation?
The consultations offered to you are first and foremost for the same day of your search. Some clinics may offer next-day consultations, but these usually become available in the evening, when no consultations for that day are left.
I forgot the time and place of my appointment. How do I get this information?
All the information relevant to your appointment will first appear on your screen once you have booked the appointment. You will also find this same information in the confirmation email and SMS that will be sent to you afterwards. If this email is not in your inbox, check your SPAM box. A reminder will also be sent to you by email and SMS before your appointment.
Why am I being refused a search if I already have a consultation booked within the next 24 hours?
The system does not authorize the search for a second consultation when you already have one scheduled at your clinic. Health card numbers are monitored to prevent any abuse. Check your email inbox to locate the confirmation email that details all necessary information for the consultation you already reserved.
Can I choose the date of my consultation?
By default, the system will offer you the first available consultation. You have the option, however, to specify the date and/or time at which you would like the search to start from.
Why is the system offering me a consultation in a clinic affiliated to my usual clinic?
The system starts by checking whether there are any availabilities with your family doctor. In the event there isn’t, the system verifies whether there are any consultations available at your usual clinic. Finally, if no consultation is available, the system makes one final attempt by checking all the clinics affiliated to the Family Health Group your clinic belongs to.
I was looking to book a consultation within the next 24 hours but the system is offering me a consultation in several days. Why?
The system starts by checking whether there are any availabilities with your family doctor. If he doesn’t have anything available today, the system verifies if you can see another doctor at your usual clinic within the next 24 hours. If nothing is once more available, the system looks whether your family doctor can see you within the next 8 days.
Please note that these guidelines may vary in some clinics.
I’ve been trying for several days now to book an appointment at my usual clinic and there’s never any availability when registration starts. Why?
Appointments are always in high demand and depending on the time of year it may be more difficult to find an appointment. Please note that cancellations occur throughout the day and these canceled appointments become available once again in the search engine, so feel free to repeat your search at different times of the day.
Bonjour-santé also offers an appointment search assistance service! If your clinic subscribes to this service, Bonjour-santé can take over and continue searching for you an appointment with your family doctor if you were unable to find one during your search. Bonjour-santé members also have exclusive access to the portion of this service that can search for walk-in appointments within 36 hours at a clinic in their area. As soon as we find an appointment that meets your criteria, we notify you by text message, email and/or telephone.
Can I complete the registration process for another person?
Of course! You simply need to enter the information of the person who needs to see a doctor (name, health card number, etc.)
I’ve never used Bonjour-santé before. How do I go about booking a consultation by phone?
Bonjour-santé offers two ways of searching for appointments: through a telephone solution or a web solution. Since you are already on the web, click on this link for online search options: bonjour-sante.ca
You can either click on the "Provincial system (Free)" button and follow the steps to search for an appointment with your family doctor or a walk-in appointment in 36 hours or less at a clinic in your area. You can also click on the blue “Discover the membership” button. By signing up to Bonjour-santé, you have free access to the appointment search engine (Provincial system) and you also have unlimited access to a host of complementary health services available exclusively to members.
To get the number for your clinic's telephone booking service, you must contact your clinic.
How does the reminder call work?
You will receive a reminder call 60 to 90 minutes before your consultation. Please come to the clinic even if you do not receive the call.
I have been trying for several days to find an appointment with my family doctor, but there is never any availability. What should I do?
Clinics and doctors are always in high demand, and you may not always find an appointment at the time of your search. We have a solution! Bonjour-santé offers a free appointment search assistant service to all patients whose regular clinic uses this service. This means that if you are searching for an appointment with your family doctor on the Bonjour-santé site and cannot find an available appointment, our assistant service (if offered at your clinic) can take over and continue searching for you. As soon as it finds an appointment, it notifies you.
For Bonjour-santé members, the assistant service can search for appointments for them with their family doctor AND/OR walk-in appointments within 36 hours at a clinic in their region.
Can I complete the registration process for another person?
Of course! You simply need to enter the information of the person who needs to see a doctor (name, health card number, etc.)
Are all reasons for consulting eligible for an e-consult?
E-consults are possible between patients and their family doctor only if the doctor is already familiar with the patient's condition and agrees to see his or her patients by e-consults. E-consults for walk-in appointments are not permitted.
How long does an e-consult last?
The length varies depending on the clinic, the doctor and the reason for consulting. Based on these factors, an e-consult usually lasts 10 to 20 minutes.
How do I book an e-consult?
Please note that e-consults are offered at the discretion of each clinic and/or doctor. Search for an appointment from the Bonjour-santé home page. If an appointment is available by e-consult, this will be clearly indicated when you view the results (appointment choices). You can then select the e-consult appointment that suits you best.
Could there be a waiting time before the doctor joins the e-consult?
We are developing tools and innovations that help reduce the waiting time! If, due to a delay, your e-consult cannot take place at the scheduled time, don’t worry; we will contact you to let you know when to join the e-consult.
How will I be notified when it’s my turn?
You will receive a communication from Bonjour-santé by SMS and email 10 minutes before the estimated time of your appointment, including the login information. You don’t have email or a cellphone? No problem, we will call you 5 minutes before the estimated time of your e-consult. Whether you are joining the e-consult by videoconference or telephone, you will be placed in the doctor’s waiting queue and all you will have to do is wait for the doctor to join the appointment.
I haven’t received the login information yet, what do I do?
We take care of everything! It is absolutely normal that you have not yet received your login information. Bonjour-santé will send it to you by email and SMS at the right time, which should be 10 minutes before the estimated time of your e-consult. You will be provided with the necessary information every step of the way.
I prefer joining my e-consult by phone, what do I do?
If you rather have your e-consult by telephone, you have 2 options:
What to do in case of a technical issue during the e-consult?
If you are experiencing technical difficulties before or during your e-consult, you can access the e-consult by telephone. To do so, you must dial the number and the meeting code that are included in the communications that Bonjour-santé sent to you, including the login information. The login information is also available in the upper right corner of the videoconference screen.
Is the Bonjour-santé e-consult service insured/free?
Just like an in-person appointment, e-consult appointments by phone or videoconferencewith your family doctor are free (covered by the RAMQ). In addition, Bonjour-santé offers its e-consults platform free of charge to patients.
Is the communication platform used by Bonjour-santé safe?
The solution we use is the same that is being used by the most renowned e-consult platforms in the world and meets the highest security and efficiency standards. The information is completely encrypted and is hosted Canada on state-of-the-art servers.
Which technical requirements, browsers and devices are required to join an e-consult by videoconference?
Make sure you have a good Internet connection (WiFi or mobile data). You can join an e-consult by videoconference using a computer, a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone, as long as these declarations are equipped with a camera and a microphone. Our platform is compatible with the most recent versions of the following browsers using a computer, tablet or smartphone:
Can I send files and pictures during an e-consult?
Yes, our integrated chat tool allows for a written exchange between the patient and the doctor, and can also be used to upload files and pictures. The chat does not keep any history and does not allow doctors to read messages nor see documents and the pictures uploaded by patients before the doctor joins the meeting. Also, for optimum confidentiality, no video nor data is kept by Bonjour-santé. The conversation between a doctor and patient is strictly confidential and takes place in a totally secure environment.
Types of files and pictures that can be uploaded through chat:
Files: pdf, xls, xlsx, doc, docx
Pictures: png, jpg, jpeg, tiff, gif and soon: bmp
What do I have to have with me at the time of the e-consult?
Make sure you have a photo ID with you; the doctor may ask you to identify yourself.
If the e-consult is for a child aged 12 or under, make sure you know the child’s current weight prior to the appointment. You must also have with you a list of your regular medications.
What are the advantages of a Bonjour-santé membership?
For starters, Bonjour-santé offers its members an exclusive and revolutionary service to help them find appointments quickly. How? By searching for them! If a member can't find any availability when searching for an appointment with their doctor or a walk-in appointment, Bonjour-santé takes over and searches for them! As soon as we find an appointment that meets their criteria, we notify them (psst, and we find appointments in over 80% of cases!).
In addition to having access to a search engine to find appointments with their family doctor or within 36 hours in a clinic in their area, members have unlimited and exclusive access to a slew of services that meet all their health needs, including:
Members can also take advantage of exclusive discounts on paid healthcare services:
How much is a Bonjour-santé membership?
You may choose between two bundles: the individual bundle or the family bundle. For more information on these bundles’ monthly fees as well as the registration fee, visit our membership page.
Can I cancel my membership at any time?
Yes, you may cancel your subscription whenever you like. Simply visit the "Billing" section of your account. Please note, however, that should you decide to reactivate your subscription later on, the registration fees will be once more applicable. See our terms of use for more information on subscription policies.
Which payment methods are accepted?
We accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express. You may also pay using your VISA Debit card.
How long is my membership valid for?
A membership is valid for one month, with automatic renewal each month. You may cancel your membership at any time, but please note: if you decide to cancel your membership and reactivate it later on, you will have to pay the registration fees once more.
How many subscribers does the family bundle cover?
The family membership can include up to 6 individuals living in the same household or not.
Bonjour-santé can search for appointments for me? How does it work?
Bonjour-santé offers all users a free appointment search assistance service! If your clinic subscribes to this service, Bonjour-santé can take over and continue searching for an appointment with your family doctor for you if you were unable to find one during your appointment search.
For Bonjour-santé members, in addition to searching for them for appointments with their doctor, the search assistance service can search for them walk-in appointments within 36 hours at a clinic in their area!
As soon as we find an appointment that meets your criteria, we notify you by SMS, email and/or telephone.
Does the Bonjour-santé membership give me more appointment options and availabilities with a doctor?
The search engine offered with the Bonjour-santé membership to find an appointment with your family doctor or a 36-hour walk-in appointment at a clinic in your area is the same as the one offered free of charge through the Provincial System (available through the Bonjour-santé home page). The results will be the same; however, with the Bonjour-santé membership, members have access to an exclusive and revolutionary service that can search for them for walk-in appointments within 36 hours at clinics in their area! If a member searches for an appointment and can't find one, Bonjour-santé can take over and continue searching for them for a set period of time. When we find an appointment that meets their criteria, we notify them.
Members also have unlimited access to a slew of complementary health services, including e-consults with our team of nurses to discuss physical health issues and well-being issues (anxiety, stress, insomnia, substance abuse, etc.), an online dermatological analysis tool, an advice service with nutritionists, access to an online consultation service with pharmacists from our partner Medzy and so much more.
In addition, Bonjour-santé members have unlimited access to a search engine to find appointments with specialists. We also provide a liaison team to help find appointments with specialists or for specialized tests (MRI, ultrasound, x-ray, etc.), etc.
I’ve never used Bonjour-santé. How can I book an appointment with a specialist?
Appointment search with specialists is available only to Bonjour-santé members.
Members must log in to their Bonjour-santé account and then select the "Find a medical specialist" option at the top of the screen. You will need to enter the specialty you are looking for.
If our search engine finds appointments for the specialty you are looking for within a 70 km radius (depending on your postal code), you will be offered these appointment options (dates and times) and you will have to choose the one that suits you.
If our search engine does not find an appointment, you will see a message indicating that we can help you find one. Our team of nurses is available to assist you with your follow-up care if you need to see a specialist, undergo specialized tests, get paramedical care, etc. Simply click on the “Make a Request” button to submit a request to our team and a nurse will follow up with you.
Why are you offering me an appointment in a clinic located 70 km from me?
According to patient feedback, 70 km is the maximum distance most people are ready to travel to see a doctor. However, since the specialist appointment search service is new, a large majority of specialists are currently located in the Greater Montreal area. If distance does not bother you, you can always enter a postal code for that region or a different postal code for more appointment options.
After doing a search, I am told that no appointments are available. Why?
Our network of specialists, available to Bonjour-santé members, is constantly expanding. That being said, it may not include all specialties or the search engine may not find appointments for you within 70 km of your location, depending on your postal code. If you don't mind the distance, you can always enter a postal code from another area and do another search.
Please note that if our search engine does not find an appointment, you will see a message saying that we can help you find one. Our team of nurses is on hand to help you with your follow-up care if you need to see a specialist, undergo specialized tests, get paramedical services, etc. Simply click on the 'Make a request' button to submit a request to our team and a nurse will follow up with you.
The specialty I am looking for is not in your list. What should I do?
It is possible that at the time of your search, no doctor in the specialty you are looking for is included in our network. You will see a section entitled "The specialty you are looking for is not in the list?". Please let us know which specialty you would like us to add to our list. Your recommendations will help us expand our service.
Please note that if our search engine does not find an appointment, you will see a message saying that we can help you find one. Our team of nurses is on hand to help you with your follow-up care if you need to see a specialist, undergo specialized tests, get paramedical services, etc. Simply click on the 'Make a request' button to submit a request to our team and a nurse will follow up with you.
Do I have to have a reference to book an appointment?
It is absolutely recommended to have a reference from a general practitioner when booking your appointment, otherwise search results may be limited or certain specialists may refuse the appointment.
What is the delay to see a specialist?
Our service aims to get you an appointment with a specialist within 30 days.
Why do I need a Bonjour-santé membership to search for an appointment with a specialist?
Although this option is available exclusively to our members, the Bonjour-santé membership is absolutely optional. You can also call the different health care facilities to try and find an appointment with a specialist. Our search engine compiles availabilities and helps members quickly find and book an appointment with a specialist.
