Santé Québec launches new AI tool to help reduce Quebec 811 wait times
Posted November 5, 2026 10:21 am.
Santé Québec has announced a new virtual assistant service that allows users to complete an initial triage process online before speaking with an 811 nurse.
Users are asked to provide certain health-related information to help reduce administrative work for nurses.
Officials say the goal is to allow nurses to focus more on providing medical advice and conducting clinical assessments.
“The 811 Virtual Assistant, developed by Santé Québec, allows users to prepare for their call at their own pace and transmit certain information before interacting with a nurse,” Santé Québec told CityNews.
The 811 Virtual Assistant was initially launched in September in the Capitale-Nationale and Laurentians regions. On Oct. 23, the service was expanded to include residents of Chaudière-Appalaches, Estrie and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.
The service is currently available in five regions, but Santé Québec says it will gradually be expanded to the rest of the province.
“For nurses, the information prepared in this way can serve as a starting point for the assessment and reduce certain administrative tasks, allowing them to devote more time to providing advice and conducting clinical assessments,” Santé Québec stated.
Officials emphasized that the human relationship remains at the heart of the service. While artificial intelligence is used to summarize the information provided by users, it does not make clinical decisions or replace a nurse’s judgment.
Santé Québec also stressed that the AI tool does not determine what care should be provided. All clinical decisions remain the responsibility of the nurse.
For now, using the 811 Virtual Assistant remains optional. Those who prefer to speak directly with a nurse can continue using the usual 811 service.
