Cared by a specialized nurse practitioner
Since April 15, 2024, specialized nurse practitioners in primary care who work in SNP clinics can directly care for people who do not have a family doctor and who are registered on the Québec Family Doctor Finder.
Registering to the waiting list to find a family doctor
To find a family doctor, a specialized nurse practitioner in primary care (SNPPC) or a group of doctors that is accepting new patients, you can register on the waiting list by using the Québec Family Doctor Finder (GAMF).
To keep your place on the waiting list, it is important to make sure that your registration with the Québec Family Doctor Finder is kept up to date. Do not forget to update your contact information and to report any changes in your health condition. To find about more, go to the page Québec Family Doctor Finder.
This service is reserved for people who do not have a family doctor or a SNPPC. Nevertheless, if your doctor or your SNPPC can no longer provide you with medical care, because they leave their place of practice or retire, for example, or if you have a good reason to want to change family doctor or SNPPC (you move or you can no longer get to your current clinic, for example), you can contact your territory waiting list 
(Guichet d'accès pour la clientèle orpheline – GACO, in French only) to request another doctor or SNPPC. You will keep your current family doctor or SNPPC while waiting for a new one.
In other situations, you might not be able to request another doctor or SNPPC while still keeping your current one. In this case, you will have to cancel your registration with your current doctor or SNPPC to be able to register again on the GAMF waiting list.
Finding a family doctor or a specialized nurse practitioner in primary care yourself
You can find a family doctor or a SNPPC on your own. You can contact medical clinics, family medicine groups (GMF), local community services centres (CLSCs) or public SNP clinics located near you to see if they are accepting new patients. You will find their contact information on the page Finding a resource .
Complete registration with a family doctor or a specialized nurse practitioner in primary care
Once you have found a family doctor or SNPPC, or have been assigned one, you must register with them by completing the registration form that you will receive at that time. Registering with a doctor or a SNPPC from the public healthcare system is voluntary and free.
If you have found a family doctor or a SNPPC by yourself, you do not need to take any further action. The starting date of your follow-up with your doctor or your SNPPC will automatically end your registration on the GAMF waiting list.
Being cared for by a group of doctors
Once you have registered with the GAMF or after your doctor has retired, a group of doctors could take care of you. In such case, you will receive a mail from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). The letter will:
- confirm your registration with a group of doctors;
- provide their contact information.
You will therefore have no additional action to take to confirm your assignment.
To obtain a health consultation or service, you must contact the Primary Care Access Point in your region. For more information, consult the page Getting a medical consultation with a health professional.
By being cared for by a group of doctors, you will receive services from this group. It is important to note that you will not be under the care of a particular family doctor. You may see a different doctor or health professional (nurse, social worker, physiotherapist or other) at each appointment.
Your registration on the waiting list to find a family doctor or a SNPPC remains valid.
If you have questions or need information about groups of doctors, contact your territory waiting list (GACO) .
Consequences of canceling your registration
Be careful, as soon as you cancel your registration, you do no longer have access to this doctor or SNPPC’s services. You also lose access to services offered by the clinic you normally go to.
To cancel your registration with your current doctor or SNPPC, you will have to contact the RAMQ . You will then be able to put your name on the waiting list, either online through the Québec Family Doctor Finder (GAMF) or Québec Health Booklet sites or by telephone by contacting your territory waiting list (GACO).
To cancel your registration with your group of doctors, you will have to contact your territory waiting list (Guichet d’accès pour la clientèle orpheline – GACO). If your were already registred on the waiting list to find a family doctor or a SNPPC, your registration remains valid. Otherwise, you can put your name on the waiting list, either online through the Québec Family Doctor Finder (GAMF) or Québec Health Booklet sites or by telephone by contacting your territory waiting list (GACO).
Last update: April 15, 2024
