MGH campus transformation
MGH’s campus transformation continues with major renovation work this winter and spring. Patients and visitors can expect to experience hallway closures and detours around the hospital. Read more here.
MGH’s campus transformation continues with major renovation work this winter and spring. Patients and visitors can expect to experience hallway closures and detours around the hospital. Read more here.
Please note the MGH Virtual Emergency Department’s last day of service will be March 31, 2023. Thank you to our community and staff for your support over the past two years. Learn more in the MGH Newsroom.
Michael Garron Hospital’s Virtual Emergency Department (ED) offers same-day virtual care video appointments for patients in East Toronto who are three months of age or older and are experiencing an urgent but non-life threatening health issue.
The Virtual ED is open daily (including holidays) in the afternoons with 15 minute appointments with an MGH ED physician.
Please keep reading to learn more about the Virtual Emergency Department.
If you are in severe distress, experiencing a life-threatening emergency or need in-person care, please call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
A virtual emergency department appointment may be the right option for a patient who:
Patients who cannot wait for their booked appointment time should go to the emergency department in-person immediately.
Please note that Virtual Emergency Department appointments are not appropriate for individuals seeking narcotic prescriptions or renewals. Please see your regular provider for this.
During your appointment, you will have the opportunity to speak to an ED physician about your health concern through a video call. Based on your needs, your physician may:
To book a virtual emergency department appointment, patients will need to:
Please note that patients must be currently located in Ontario to book their appointment.
Yes. The Virtual Emergency Department is open to anyone three months of age or older.
MGH’s Virtual Emergency Department uses a virtual care platform called Verto to book appointments and Zoom for Healthcare to host the video visits. Both Verto and Zoom privacy policies comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements including both The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Ontario’s stringent Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
Click here to review Verto's privacy policy.
Click here to review Zoom's privacy policy.
To help us keep your information safe and secure, you can do the following:
Yes. MGH’s Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is always here for you. We have taken great care to keep you as safe as possible during in person visits. We have large waiting rooms to allow physical distancing and provide masks for all patients and visitors.
MGH’s Virtual Emergency Department aims to improve access to urgent care for our East Toronto community. It is not a requirement that you live in East Toronto, however a possible outcome of your virtual appointment may be to come in-person to the hospital or your nearest emergency department for care. For ease of continuity of care, those living in East Toronto would come to MGH. Any referrals made to specialists will also be in the East Toronto area.
Please note that patients must be currently located in Ontario to use MGH’s Virtual Emergency Department.
If all appointments for MGH’s Virtual Emergency Department are booked, please visit MGH’s Emergency Department in-person or book a virtual appointment with another hospital.
Other virtual emergency departments in the Greater Toronto Area are offered by Sunnybrook Hospital, the University Health Network and Unity Health. Appointments may be accessed at this link: torontovirtualed.ca.