Dr. Alison Julie Michel – Family Doctor | Victoria, BC

Dr. Alison Julie Michel is a Family Doctor. Practicing at Victoria Hospice in Victoria, BC, she is dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive, and patient-centered family medical care. She is registered with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) and practices in accordance with the standards set by this regulatory body and the principles of modern family medicine.

Dr. Michel's role focuses on providing continuous and comprehensive primary medical care for individuals and families across all ages and stages of life. This includes preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, and management of ongoing health needs, serving as the central point for patient care. She serves patients of all ages, from newborns and infants through to children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. Dr. Alison Julie Michel completed her MD (McMaster University, 2001). She brings valuable clinical experience to the practice and has developed skills or a strong interest in areas such as comprehensive primary care within family practice. She is also dedicated to ongoing professional development to stay current with the latest advancements in family medicine.

Key aspects of her practice philosophy include advocating for patients' needs within the healthcare system and coordinating care effectively with specialists and community services; a strong belief in patient-centered care, ensuring that treatment plans are tailored to individual needs, values, and circumstances; a commitment to evidence-based medicine, integrating the latest research with clinical expertise to provide the highest standard of care. She provides consultations in English.

Dr. Alison Julie Michel provides comprehensive family medical care for a wide variety of health concerns affecting patients of all ages, including but not limited to:

Preventative Health Topics

• Occupational Health Screening & Advice (Basic Pre-placement, Return-to-Work): Primary care support for general occupational health questions, routine employment-related medical screenings, and facilitating a safe return to work after illness or injury.
• Comprehensive Lifestyle Counseling (Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Stress Reduction): Supporting your efforts to adopt and maintain healthier habits across multiple domains of life for a better quality of life, increased resilience, and proactive disease prevention through shared goal setting and ongoing support.
• Infectious Disease Prevention & Outbreak Management Support (Community Level): Administering vaccinations to prevent communicable diseases and playing a role in community-level surveillance and reporting as required by public health authorities.

Mental Health Concerns

• Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety - Management): Providing comprehensive assessment, psychoeducation, supportive counseling, lifestyle advice (exercise, mindfulness, sleep hygiene), evidence-based medication management (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone), and facilitating timely referrals for psychotherapy (CBT, DBT, etc.) or psychiatric consultation for common anxiety disorders.
• Insomnia & Chronic Sleep Disturbances: Comprehensive primary care management of common sleep disorders to restore healthy sleep patterns and improve overall health and well-being.
• Initial Assessment & Referral for Other Mental Health Concerns (e.g., OCD, PTSD, Eating Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis): Recognizing signs and symptoms of various serious mental health issues and facilitating timely access to the appropriate level of specialist care and support.

Joint Muscle Pain

• Gout & Pseudogout (Crystal Arthropathies) - Acute Attack Management & Chronic Prevention Strategies: Providing long-term management strategies for chronic gout to prevent recurrent attacks and complications (e.g., tophi, chronic gouty arthropathy, kidney stones), including detailed lifestyle advice (dietary modifications - reducing purine-rich foods such as red meat/organ meats/shellfish, limiting alcohol especially beer and spirits, avoiding sugary drinks/high-fructose corn syrup; hydration; weight management if overweight/obese) and initiating/managing urate-lowering therapy (ULT) such as allopurinol or febuxostat to achieve and maintain target serum uric acid levels (typically <360 µmol/L or <300 µmol/L if tophi present). Monitoring for medication side effects, adherence, and regular serum uric acid levels.
• Fibromyalgia & Other Widespread Chronic Pain Syndromes - Primary Care Diagnosis & Multimodal Management: Initial assessment and diagnosis of fibromyalgia or other widespread chronic pain syndromes based on established clinical criteria (e.g., ACR criteria for fibromyalgia), after appropriate investigation to rule out other underlying systemic inflammatory or medical conditions. Developing a comprehensive, multimodal management plan focusing on patient education about the condition (central sensitization, pain neurophysiology), promoting self-management, graded exercise therapy (low-impact aerobic, strength, flexibility, aquatic therapy), optimizing sleep hygiene, stress management techniques (mindfulness, relaxation, CBT principles), pain coping strategies, and judicious use of medications targeting central sensitization and associated symptoms (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, SNRIs like duloxetine/venlafaxine, gabapentinoids like gabapentin/pregabalin). Avoidance of long-term opioid therapy is generally emphasized.
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) - Diagnosis, Management & Monitoring (Often with Rheumatology Co-Management): Often co-managed with or referred to rheumatology, especially for atypical presentations, diagnostic uncertainty, difficulty tapering corticosteroids, frequent relapses, or suspected GCA. Primary care plays a key role in ongoing monitoring, patient education, and supportive care for PMR.

This list offers some examples of common conditions managed in family practice. A diagnosis is always based on an individual assessment by Dr. Michel. If your specific health concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic to discuss your needs.

• Coordination with Allied Health Professionals & Community Health Services: Referring to and collaborating effectively with other healthcare providers integral to comprehensive care, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, psychologists, social workers, speech-language pathologists, chiropractors, pharmacists, optometrists, audiologists, and various community support services (e.g., home care, mental health teams, diabetes education programs, addiction services, public health units).
• Chronic Respiratory Disease Care (Asthma, COPD, Chronic Bronchitis): Managing chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), including accurate diagnosis, creating/updating personalized action plans, optimizing inhaler technique, smoking cessation support, and managing exacerbations to improve lung function and daily living.
• Eczema, Psoriasis (Mild) & Other Common Rashes: Comprehensive primary care for chronic inflammatory and allergic skin conditions to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Developmental, Behavioral & Learning Concerns in Children (Initial Assessment, Guidance & Referral): A first point of contact for parents with concerns about a child's learning, behavior, social interaction, or overall development, offering support, resources, and clear pathways to specialized care and school supports.
• Smoking & Tobacco Cessation Programs & Support: Dedicated, non-judgmental support for your journey to become smoke-free, improving your immediate and long-term health significantly.

Note: This list highlights some of the key services offered by Dr. Michel. For a comprehensive understanding of all services, or to discuss your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation.

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Family Doctors in BC and the ethical and professional standards set by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).

At Victoria Hospice, family medicine is centered on a collaborative partnership to help individuals like you achieve significant improvements in your health, manage ongoing conditions effectively, and enhance your overall well-being. Dr. Michel frequently works with patients towards goals such as:

• Many seek Dr. Michel's help for experiencing unexplained joint swelling or stiffness, especially in the mornings. The collaborative goal is achieving substantially better and more integrated management of their multiple co-existing chronic conditions (multimorbidity) through the highly coordinated, holistic, and patient-centered approach to care championed by Dr. Michel, allowing a return to valued activities like fully sharing and enjoying relaxed, convivial meals and engaging conversations with their loved ones without being constantly preoccupied by nagging physical pain, digestive discomfort, or restrictive dietary anxieties.
• Dr. Michel supports patients through needing a refill for their regular medications for an ongoing condition like high blood pressure or thyroid issues, aiming for outcomes like feeling substantially more in control of their personal health journey, demonstrably better equipped to make informed health decisions for themselves and their family, and genuinely optimistic about their future health prospects due to the guidance and partnership with Dr. Michel, so they can return to activities such as diligently learning a new foreign language, mastering a complex musical instrument, or developing a sophisticated artistic skill that requires significant focus, patience, dexterity, and long-term dedication.
• Patients often come to Dr. Michel regarding their infant having persistent diaper rash that isn't clearing up with over-the-counter creams. Working together, they aim for successfully and completely completing a course of treatment for an acute infection (like pneumonia or a significant skin infection) or a new condition under Dr. Michel's diligent, meticulous care and important follow-up monitoring, making a return to comfortably and confidently navigating crowded, stimulating public spaces like busy shopping malls, bustling farmers' markets, large airports, or public transit hubs without feeling overwhelmed, excessively stressed, or physically unsafe feasible.

Your personalized healthcare plan, developed in discussion with Dr. Michel, will be thoughtfully designed to help you reach your specific functional, preventative, and wellness objectives. She believes in empowering patients with the knowledge and support needed to take an active role in their health journey.

Dr. Michel's practice at Victoria Hospice is situated in a well-regarded family medical practice in the Victoria neighborhood of Victoria. The clinic is conveniently located near the Downtown Core and is accessible via the Victoria Regional Transit System (BC Transit). Ample parking is generally accessible close to the clinic entrance; please observe local signage.

Do I need a referral to see a family doctor (Family Doctor) in BC?

Generally, you do not need a referral to see a family doctor in BC if that doctor is accepting new patients. However, finding a family doctor who is accepting new patients can be challenging. Provincial resources, such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia website, may be helpful in your search. A referral from a family doctor is usually required to see most medical specialists.

What should I expect during my first 'meet and greet' or new patient intake appointment with Dr. Michel?

An initial 'meet and greet' or new patient visit with Dr. Michel usually involves a thorough discussion about your health. Be prepared to talk about your personal and family medical history, current medications and dosages, any ongoing health issues, and your overall lifestyle. Dr. Michel will want to understand your health needs and what you expect from your family doctor. Some doctors may perform a physical exam during this first visit, or it might be scheduled for a subsequent appointment. This initial consultation is key to building a therapeutic patient-doctor relationship.

What should I do if I have an urgent medical issue when Victoria Hospice is closed?

If you have a life-threatening medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately. For urgent, non-life-threatening issues that cannot wait until Victoria Hospice reopens, you may consider visiting an urgent care centre or a walk-in clinic. Some family health teams or groups offer after-hours on-call services for their registered patients; please check with Victoria Hospice or Dr. Michel during regular hours to see if such arrangements are in place for their practice. The clinic voicemail may also provide instructions or resources for after-hours care.

What is 'continuity of care' and why is it important with a family doctor like Dr. Michel?

Having continuity of care with Dr. Michel means that she is your consistent point of contact for your health needs over many years. This long-term relationship allows Dr. Michel to understand the nuances of your health, track changes over time, and provide care that is personalized and proactive. It improves communication, reduces duplication of tests, helps in managing chronic conditions more effectively, and fosters a stronger doctor-patient partnership, all leading to better overall health management.

Is seeing a family doctor (Family Doctor) covered by Medical Services Plan (MSP) of BC in BC?

Medically necessary visits to a family doctor are typically covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP) of BC for eligible residents with a valid provincial health card. However, some services, such as cosmetic procedures or travel medicine consultations, may not be covered and might have an associated fee. Please confirm with Victoria Hospice if you have questions about specific non-insured services or potential fees.

Can Dr. Michel help with mental health concerns like anxiety or depression?

Yes, as your family doctor, Dr. Michel plays a crucial role in mental healthcare. She is often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress-related issues, sleep problems, or concerns about substance use. Dr. Michel can provide an initial assessment, offer supportive counseling and lifestyle strategies, prescribe medication if appropriate and indicated, and make referrals to specialized mental health services such as psychiatrists, psychologists, or community mental health programs if more intensive or specialized care is needed. Dr. Michel can provide ongoing support and management for many common mental health conditions.

What exactly is a family doctor (Family Doctor) and what is their role?

A family doctor, often called a general practitioner (GP), is a medical doctor specializing in comprehensive primary healthcare for individuals and families across all ages and life stages. They serve as your first point of contact for most health concerns, offering preventative care (like check-ups, immunizations, and health screenings), diagnosing and treating acute illnesses (such as infections or minor injuries), managing chronic conditions (like diabetes, hypertension, or asthma), providing mental health support, and coordinating your care by referring you to specialists when necessary. A key aspect of their role is building long-term relationships with patients to promote overall health and well-being.

How can I find a family doctor (Family Doctor) in BC who is accepting new patients?

You can check the website of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, which often has a 'Find a Doctor' tool or list. You can also ask friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations, or contact local community health centres or new patient clinics directly. Finding a family doctor who is accepting new patients can sometimes take time and effort.

Victoria Hospice
3-1100 Tulip Ave
Victoria, BC, V8Z 0A2

Phone: (250) 217-5605

Dr. Alison Julie Michel is regulated by the Health Professions Act (British Columbia) in BC and is a registered member in good standing with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).

Registration Number: 27981

Verify registration with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC): https://www.cpsbc.ca/public/registrant-directory/search-result/325685/Michel%2CAlison

Family doctors like Dr. Michel are skilled in managing a wide range of health issues. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your family doctor about all aspects of your health, including any treatments received from other practitioners.