Besançon residents now have a novel option for non-emergency medical care, thanks to the recently opened maison médicale de garde (medical home for guard duty) at the CHU (university hospital). Launched in December 2025, the facility aims to alleviate pressure on the city’s overwhelmed emergency services and address the challenges of accessing care outside of regular office hours. This new resource is particularly crucial given the saturation of SOS Médecins, the local on-call doctor service, and the increasing demand for timely medical attention in the region. The initiative represents a collaborative effort between local healthcare providers and regional health authorities to improve access to care for the population of Besançon and surrounding communities.
The concept behind the maison médicale de garde is to provide a responsive and appropriate level of care for patients who don’t require the full resources of the emergency department. It’s designed to fill the gaps – what those involved call “the holes in the net” – in the existing healthcare system. The facility is staffed by 40 volunteer liberal doctors, offering a crucial service during evenings, weekends, and holidays when many private practices are closed. This addresses a significant need for residents seeking medical advice or treatment for non-life-threatening conditions.
A Collaborative Approach to Healthcare Access
The project is the culmination of years of planning and collaboration, beginning with the Association Comtoise de Régulation Libérale (ACORELI) – an association of liberal doctors – which formed in 2004 to improve the filtering of ambulatory care requests. Dr. Benoît Rabier, a general practitioner in Pouilley-les-Vignes, currently serves as the president of ACORELI. The association’s work laid the groundwork for the creation of the medical home, which is now organized by the Association de la garde médicale bisontine, led by Dr. Pierre-Louis Hélias, also a general practitioner in Besançon.
Central to accessing the maison médicale de garde is the national health access number, 116117. This often-overlooked resource allows individuals to connect with a healthcare professional who can assess their needs and direct them to the most appropriate care pathway – whether it’s a local doctor on call, SOS Médecins, or, in urgent cases, the emergency services (Centre 15). The 116117 service provides medical advice, schedules appointments at the medical home (by prior arrangement only), and ensures patients are guided to the right level of care.
How the System Works
Patients seeking care at the maison médicale de garde must first contact 116117 to schedule an appointment. The facility, located within the CHU’s emergency department, operates during specific hours: Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. To midnight, Saturdays from noon to midnight, and Sundays and public holidays from 8 a.m. To midnight. Outside of these hours, liberal doctors on call and SOS Médecins continue to provide coverage. This tiered system ensures that patients have access to medical assistance at all times, regardless of the severity of their condition.
The close proximity of the 116117 call center and the emergency department allows for efficient triage and coordination of care. Regulators at 116117, possessing the same regional competence as the Centre 15, can leverage a vast network of affiliated liberal doctors throughout Franche-Comté to provide the most appropriate response. This collaborative approach minimizes unnecessary visits to the emergency room and ensures that resources are allocated effectively.
Financial Support and Regional Expansion
The establishment of the maison médicale de garde received financial support from the Agence régionale de santé Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (ARS), with a contribution of approximately €57,000 per year. According to Agnès Hochart, the ARS’s territorial director for the Doubs department, this funding is essential for streamlining access to emergency care and improving the overall patient experience. The CHU covers the administrative and logistical costs associated with the facility.
Besançon isn’t alone in this initiative. The ARS has also supported the creation of similar medical homes in Pontarlier and Audincourt, demonstrating a regional commitment to improving access to out-of-hours care. The 116117 service is promoted as the preferred first point of contact for medical advice, even for children, offering a time-saving and efficient alternative to traditional healthcare pathways.
Looking ahead, the success of the maison médicale de garde in Besançon will be closely monitored as a model for other communities facing similar healthcare access challenges. The ARS has not announced any further expansion plans at this time, but the ongoing evaluation of the program will inform future decisions regarding resource allocation and healthcare infrastructure development in the Franche-Comté region. For residents of Besançon and surrounding areas, the 116117 number remains the key to accessing this vital new service.
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