Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Montreal | Canada Hyperbarics
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MTL Covered 2 facilities

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Montreal

Quebec. Hopital du Sacre-Coeur operates the RAMQ-covered HBOT programme, with one private clinic downtown for off-label indications.

View 2 Facilities Cost & Coverage FAQ

Quick Answer

HBOT in Montreal: Montreal has two hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilities: Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal provides the RAMQ-covered hospital programme for recognised indications, and Hyperbaric Montreal is a private downtown clinic for self-pay HBOT. Sacre-Coeur is a major Quebec HBOT centre and treats divers, carbon-monoxide patients, and radiation-injury cases from across the province. Private sessions downtown typically cost $175 to $300.

Key facts at a glance

City:
Montreal, Quebec
Facilities:
2 (1 hospital, 1 private)
Provincial plan:
RAMQ
Coverage:
Covers 14 conditions at hospital
Typical wait:
4 to 10 weeks
Emergency:
24/7 at Sacre-Coeur
Private cost:
$175 to $300 per session
Last updated:

Facilities

2

1 hospital · 1 private

Provincial Plan

RAMQ

Covers 14 conditions at hospital

Typical Wait

4 to 10 weeks

For elective indications

Emergency

24/7 at Sacre-Coeur

CO, air embolism, DCS

HBOT Facilities in Montreal

RAMQ covers HBOT at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal for all recognised conditions. Physician referral required. Private HBOT downtown is not RAMQ-covered and is self-pay.

Independent directory, no paid placements learn more

Hospital Programmes, Provincial Coverage Available

Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal

Hospital

Montreal, QC

24/7 emergency.

514-338-2777

Private Clinics

Coverage varies by clinic and indication. Some may bill the provincial plan for approved indications; others operate on a self-pay basis. Confirm directly with each clinic before booking.

How Much Does HBOT Cost in Montreal?

RAMQ covers HBOT at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur for all 14 recognised conditions at no out-of-pocket cost with a physician referral. The private downtown clinic offers self-pay HBOT for off-label indications or faster scheduling.

For an RAMQ-covered indication

$0 with physician referral

Fully covered at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal with physician referral. Quebec is one of seven Canadian provinces with an established hospital HBOT programme.

Private-pay option

$175 to $300 per session

Some facilities offer private-pay HBOT, typically for conditions outside the recognised indications list or for patients preferring faster scheduling. Typical per-session rate at the Montreal private clinic. Package pricing may apply for longer courses. Confirm pricing with the clinic directly.

Note: A 40-session course for a condition not covered by the provincial plan typically totals $7,000 to $12,000. Quebec private insurance plans rarely cover HBOT; confirm with your insurer.

How to Get a Referral for HBOT in Montreal

For RAMQ-covered treatment, obtain a referral from your family physician or specialist to the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. Private clinics accept self-referrals with a medical assessment.

  1. 1 Confirm your condition is one of the 14 recognised Quebec HBOT indications.
  2. 2 Ask your family doctor, oncologist, or specialist for a referral to any Montreal-area facility that bills RAMQ for HBOT. Pick a facility from the list above and share its contact details with the referring clinician.
  3. 3 The unit triages referrals by clinical urgency. Emergency indications are treated immediately.
  4. 4 For elective indications, expect an initial assessment before treatment begins. Wait times typically range from 4 to 10 weeks.
  5. 5 For faster access or off-label indications, consider the private clinic from the list above. Contact details are on the facility card.

Emergency HBOT Access in Montreal

Time-critical hyperbaric indications in Montreal, including carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, and gas embolism, are treated as emergencies at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal.

Call 911 for any suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, diving accident, or gas embolism. Urgences-sante will transport to Hopital du Sacre-Coeur, which operates a Quebec 24/7 hyperbaric medicine service. For inter-facility transfers across Quebec, physicians coordinate through regional emergency medical coordination. See the facility card above for unit contact information.

Getting There & Accessibility

Transit, parking, and drop-off details for each facility.

Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal

5400 Boul Gouin Ouest, Ahuntsic-Cartierville. STM buses 164 and 171 serve the hospital. Cartierville train station nearby. Paid patient parking on site.

Hyperbaric Montreal (downtown)

1455 Peel Street, Suite 111, downtown. Peel Metro station (Green Line) directly accessible. Limited street parking; underground garages nearby.

Conditions Commonly Treated

Sacre-Coeur treats all 14 recognised Quebec HBOT conditions including carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, delayed radiation injury from CHU cancer centres, necrotizing soft tissue infections, and chronic osteomyelitis. The downtown private clinic serves off-label indications on a self-pay basis.

14 Health Canada-recognised conditions

Local Research Connection

The Universite de Montreal Faculty of Medicine maintains teaching affiliations with the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur hyperbaric programme. Quebec hyperbaric medicine faculty have contributed to Canadian clinical practice guidelines through CUHMA.

Local Context

Hopital du Sacre-Coeur is a major Quebec hyperbaric medicine centre and a referral hospital for diving emergencies in southern Quebec. Its caseload includes commercial divers from the Saint Lawrence, carbon-monoxide cases from Quebec's harsh winters, and radiation-injury cases from the network of Quebec cancer centres.

All 14 conditions Research database National coverage guide

Nearest Alternatives to Montreal

If facilities in Montreal are fully booked or you need access outside regular hours, these programmes serve the surrounding region.

Hotel-Dieu de Levis

Levis, QC · About 2.5 hours east by car

Quebec's other RAMQ-covered hospital HBOT programme, serving the Quebec City region.

The Ottawa Hospital

Ottawa, ON · About 2 hours west by car

Nearest Ontario hospital programme. OHIP-covered; accessible for western Quebec residents.

Toronto General / UHN

Toronto, ON · About 5.5 hours west

Among Canada's busiest hospital HBOT programmes. Used for complex specialist consultations.

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Enhanced placement is available to facilities that feature canadahyperbarics.ca as a patient education resource. This helps patients find your facility and understand what HBOT is before they call.

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Frequently Asked Questions, HBOT in Montreal

Questions below are drawn from what people actually search for about HBOT in Montreal.

Does RAMQ cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Montreal?

Yes. RAMQ covers HBOT at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal for all 14 recognised conditions including diabetic foot ulcers, delayed radiation injury, carbon monoxide poisoning, and decompression sickness. A physician referral is required. The downtown private clinic is not RAMQ-covered.

How much does HBOT cost in Montreal?

HBOT is free at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur if you have a RAMQ-covered indication and a physician referral. At the downtown private clinic, sessions typically cost $175 to $300 depending on chamber type and clinical complexity. A typical 40-session private course runs $7,000 to $12,000.

How do I get a referral for HBOT in Montreal?

Ask your family physician, oncologist, or specialist for a referral to any Montreal-area facility that bills RAMQ for HBOT. Urgent cases such as carbon monoxide poisoning or decompression sickness proceed as emergencies through the emergency department without requiring prior referral.

How long is the wait for HBOT at Sacre-Coeur?

Emergency indications are treated immediately. For elective indications, wait times typically range from 4 to 10 weeks depending on clinical urgency. The downtown private clinic can often begin treatment faster; confirm availability directly with the clinic.

Where do Quebec divers go for decompression sickness?

Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal is Quebec's major emergency hyperbaric facility for decompression sickness in the Montreal region. Divers in eastern Quebec may also be routed to Hotel-Dieu de Levis. Always call 911 first; Urgences-sante coordinates routing.

Is HBOT available in French at Sacre-Coeur?

Yes. Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal is a French-language hospital; all hyperbaric care is delivered in French. Bilingual staff are available for English-speaking patients.

How long does an HBOT session last?

A standard session at Sacre-Coeur runs 90 to 120 minutes including compression to 2.0 to 2.4 ATA, treatment breathing 100% oxygen, and decompression. Most clinical protocols call for 20 to 40 daily sessions, 5 days per week; some radiation indications may require up to 60 sessions.

Is HBOT covered for chronic conditions like TBI in Quebec?

Chronic post-concussion syndrome, long-standing TBI, and late-stage stroke recovery are not on the RAMQ-covered list. Sacre-Coeur treats only approved indications. The private clinic offers HBOT for these conditions on a self-pay basis; research evidence for HBOT on chronic TBI is mixed.

What to expect at your first HBOT appointment

  1. 1

    Pre-screening and consultation

    A hyperbaric medicine physician reviews your referral and medical history. You may need a chest X-ray or ENT assessment to rule out pneumothorax or inability to equalize middle-ear pressure.

  2. 2

    Compression (10 to 15 minutes)

    Chamber pressure increases gradually to 2.0 to 2.4 ATA. Ear pressure sensation is normal; you equalize the same way you would on a plane (swallow, yawn, or a Valsalva manoeuvre).

  3. 3

    Treatment at depth (60 to 90 minutes)

    You breathe 100% oxygen through a mask or hood. Many patients doze, read, or watch TV. Air breaks every 20 to 30 minutes may be scheduled depending on the protocol.

  4. 4

    Decompression (10 to 15 minutes)

    Chamber pressure returns to surface. You may feel mild tiredness or temporary near-sightedness that typically resolves within hours to days after treatment course ends.

  5. 5

    Course length

    Most indications require 20 to 60 daily sessions. Plan for a weekday schedule spanning 4 to 12 weeks. You can typically drive yourself home after each session.

Private insurance and HBOT in Quebec

Most Canadian extended-health insurance plans (Sun Life, Manulife, Green Shield, Canada Life) do not list hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a named covered service. Coverage sometimes applies when HBOT is billed as part of physician-supervised wound care, radiation oncology follow-up, or chronic pain management. Contact your plan administrator directly with the clinical indication and CPT or billing code your provider will use, and request a written pre-authorization before committing to a treatment course.

Travelling to Montreal for HBOT

Many HBOT patients travel for treatment because hospital programmes are concentrated in a handful of Canadian cities. For a typical 20 to 40 session course, plan for four to twelve weeks of near-daily attendance at the facility.

Medical travel programmes may cover mileage, transit, or accommodation for patients travelling long distances within their home province or interprovincially:

  • Ontario: Northern Health Travel Grant for Northern Ontario residents
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP)
  • Nunavut: Government of Nunavut Medical Travel
  • Northwest Territories and Yukon: territorial medical travel assistance programmes
  • Veterans Affairs Canada may cover travel for service-related conditions

Accommodation: ask the treating hospital about on-site patient guesthouses or negotiated rates with nearby hotels. Many cancer centres maintain Hope Lodges or equivalent patient-family residences at reduced cost.

Interprovincial reciprocal billing generally covers medically necessary hospital-based HBOT for Canadians away from their home province. Confirm coverage details with your provincial plan before travelling.

HBOT in other Quebec cities

Explore facility directories for other Quebec cities covered by Canada Hyperbarics.

Levis 1

About this page

This page is maintained by the Canada Hyperbarics Research Team, an independent, institutionally-authored resource for evidence-based hyperbaric oxygen therapy information in Canada. We do not accept paid placements, sponsorship, or advertising from any facility listed on this site.

Primary sources used in this page include Health Canada's Medical Device Active Licence Listing (MDALL), CUHMA Standards of Practice Guidelines, the UHMS Indications for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (15th Edition, 2024), provincial health authority publications, and peer-reviewed clinical literature indexed on PubMed.

AI-assist disclosure: content on this page is drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by the Canada Hyperbarics Research Team before publication, per our editorial policy. No individual author is credited; the institution is the author of record.

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