GMF Clinique Medic Elle (CME) is proud to announce that it is joining forces with the Montréal Sexual Assault Centre (MSAC) and the Montreal General Hospital (MGH – part of the McGill University Health Centre) to help provide continued services for sexual assault victims.
The Montreal Sexual Assault Centre (MSAC), created in 1980, offers a range of bilingual services free of charge to anyone who has been a victim of sexual violence. Services are also offered to the victim’s family and close friends.
The news is part of renewed efforts to restructure the services available to victims of sexual assault in Montreal who are seeking medical services and to ensure that they can be seen in a timely fashion and receive the care and services that they need.
Being part of the solution
“This past June, when we were losing one of our healthcare partners in our territory that provided support to sexual assault victims, and risking having a hole in our available services in Montreal, Clinique Medic Elle (CME) stepped up to collaborate and be our new partner,” says Deby Trent, the Montreal Sexual Assault Centre’s director. “We received a very warm welcome. They made it clear that they value this service and wanted to be involved in finding a solution.”
“Healthcare is an incredibly important sector of society, and those who work within it see firsthand the importance of access to quality resources and support,” says Francine Goldberg, owner and founder of Clinique Medic Elle. “That is why I built a clinic back in 2011 as I have seen firsthand the effects of trauma, both in patients and within my family.”
The clinic began in 2011 with three physicians as an outpatient center devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of women’s health needs. With the addition of seven part-time doctors, it quickly evolved into a comprehensive semi-private medical clinic with an array of services and specialties under one roof. Today, GMF Clinique Medic Elle has over 50 health professionals within its team.
“I am so grateful to be partnering up with the Montreal Sexual Assault Centre and the MUHC,” says Goldberg. “Together, we will be able to provide comprehensive care for survivors of sexual assault. This is vital work, and I am proud to be part of an organization that is committed to helping survivors heal and rebuild their lives.”
Designated center services 24/7
Thanks to this important collaboration, the MSAC, MGH and the CME are now able to offer designated center services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The services available are:
- Medical examination
- Testing for sexually transmitted infections
- Forensic samples
- Medical treatment and follow-up
- Psychosocial support
- Information on police and legal procedures
Distribution of services by clinic
The distribution of services in Montréal for victims of sexual assault 18 years of age and over, based on language and available times, is as follows:
- GMF Clinique Medic Elle, with the MSAC
1980 Sherbrooke St. West, Suite 500
Services available in French and English
Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays
- Montreal General Hospital, part of the McGill University Health Centre, with the MSAC
Emergency Department on des Pins Avenue
Services available in English
Monday to Friday, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., weekends and holidays
- Hôpital Notre-Dame, part of the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal
Emergency Department on Plessis St.
Services available in French
24 hours a day, seven days a week
Emergency hotlines always available
Counsellors from the MSAC are always available to accompany sexual assault victims during the medico-social intervention process at GMF Clinique Medic Elle and the Montreal General Hospital.
The MSAC’s emergency team can be reached during business hours at 514-934-0505, ext. 7455.
Please note that in all circumstances, the Sexual Violence Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-888-933-9007.