CMPQ - En > The CMPQ

The CMPQ

Since its opening, in May 2004, the Centre de médecine de plongée du Québec has provided essential and innovative emergency response and care services for professional and recreational divers all over the province. 

The Centre’s mission is to provide expert medical information and advice to the diving community, as well as to assist in emergency planning, prevention of diving injuries, medical evacuation and chamber operation.  

The CHAU Hôtel Dieu de Lévis was selected to host the Centre de médecine de plongée du Québec. The centre, equipped with a hyperbaric chamber, is operated by a medical team of eight hyperbaric doctors and one emergency planning coordinator.

The 8 level II certified hyperbaric doctors are available 24/7 to provide telephone assistance to supervisors and divers during the intervention or evacuation process. They also provide telephone assistance to chamber operators during treatments, as per the Regulation respecting the professional activities that may be engaged in by a hyperbaric chamber operator.

The Centre also provides diving contractors with the services of an emergency planning coordinator, who will help them with their emergency planning, provide a list of all the emergency services available, structure and coordinate the evacuation and transport of divers by ensuring the continuity of care throughout the emergency situation, and apply the appropriate protocols and procedures.     

Professional and recreational divers are exposed to multiple dangers, which could lead to serious injuries: decompression sickness, biochemical accidents, barotraumas and extreme environmental conditions.

The need for a rapid response to limit the damages caused by an accident prompted the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST) and the Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux (MSSS) to create a medical hotline for divers and diving companies. The Hôtel Dieu de Lévis was selected to host the Centre and this hotline service. Other services related to diving medicine will also be provided at this new Centre de médecine de plongée du Québec.  It is equipped with one hyperbaric chamber, and a complete team of doctors and technicians provides the necessary support.

• The emergency hotline service is available 24/7;
• The team has eight level II certified hyperbaric doctors and one coordinator for emergency procedures

Our vision, our mission

Our Vision 

Provide high quality diving and hyperbaric medicine services to all users, and ensure their well being.

Our Mission 

The Centre de médecine de plongée du Québec will provide expert medical information and advice to members of the diving community, and support the development and implementation of emergency plans, the prevention of diving injuries, the application of medical evacuation protocols and procedures, as well as the operation of the hyperbaric chamber

Services

Emergency and coordination

  • Assist hyperbaric chamber operators during the treatment of injured divers by making sure the appropriate protocols are applied.
  • If necessary, liaise with other medical centre emergency services.
  • If needed, assist the employer/supervisor in the evacuation of the injured diver, and ensure the continuity of care throughout the process.
  • Treat diving casualties in hyperbaric chamber.

Planning

  • Provide useful information to diving contractors to help them establish a diving and emergency response plan.
  • Establish a list of provincial, regional and municipal emergency and medical services, as well as administrative authorities capable of responding to a diving emergency.

Advice

  • If needed, provide advice to level I certified hyperbaric, emergency  and/or occupational health doctors.
  • Give advice and guidance to hyperbaric chamber operators.
  • To speak to the Centre de médecine de plongée du Québec coordinator call (418) 835-7121 #1505
  • For all diving emergencies, call 1-888-835-7121

All of our staffs are bilingual.

Our team
  • Dr Dominique Buteau
  • Director of the Centre de médecine de plongée du Québec, emergency, hyperbaric and diving medicine specialist. 
  • Dr Julien Poitras
  • Head of the emergency department, emergency, hyperbaric and diving medicine specialist.
  • Dr Hélène D’Astous
  • Emergency, hyperbaric and diving medicine specialist.
  • Dr Mario Côté
  • Emergency, hyperbaric and diving medicine specialist. 
  • Dr Richard Belley
  • Medical Director of the Hyperbaric and Wound Care department, emergency, hyperbaric and diving medicine specialist.
  • Dr Sandrine Bourget
  • Emergency, hyperbaric and diving medicine specialist.
  • Dr Éric Legendre
  • Emergency, hyperbaric and diving medicine specialist.
  • Mr. Jocelyn Boisvert
  • Certified Hyperbaric Technologist, hyperbaric and diving specialist. 
  • Mrs Caroline Boutin
  • Head of the respiratory and hyperbaric department, Certified Hyperbaric Respiratory Technologist