Dr. Martin Fortin

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

Mental Health Concerns

• Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety - Management): Ongoing management and support for anxiety disorders, helping patients develop coping strategies, achieve symptom remission or reduction, and improve overall well-being.
• Stress-Related Conditions, Burnout & Adjustment Disorders: Supportive counseling and practical guidance for stress-related symptoms and adjustment disorders, promoting well-being and preventing escalation to more severe mental health conditions.
• Depression & Other Mood Disorders (e.g., Dysthymia, Seasonal Affective Disorder - Management): Assessing symptoms of depression (low mood, loss of interest/pleasure, fatigue, changes in sleep/appetite) and other mood disorders. Offering empathetic supportive counseling, discussing and initiating treatment options including lifestyle interventions, evidence-based antidepressant medications, and facilitating referrals to psychotherapy or psychiatry for moderate to severe or treatment-resistant cases.
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Assessment & Management (All Ages): Conducting initial assessments and ongoing management for ADHD symptoms in children, adolescents, and adults, using validated screening tools and collateral information (from parents, teachers). Providing psychoeducation, behavioral strategies, lifestyle coaching, academic/workplace accommodation discussions, evidence-based medication management (stimulants, non-stimulants), and referral to specialists (pediatricians, psychiatrists) for complex cases, diagnostic confirmation, or co-occurring conditions.

Preventative Health Topics

• Driver's Medical Examinations (Routine, Age-Related, Commercial): Performing comprehensive driver's medicals to ensure individuals meet the health standards necessary for safe vehicle operation, promoting road safety for all.
• 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.
• Infectious Disease Prevention & Outbreak Management Support (Community Level): Promoting individual and community resilience against infectious diseases through education, vaccination, and adherence to public health measures.

Adult Common Health Issues

• Venous Insufficiency & Varicose Veins (Conservative Management & Lifestyle Advice): Primary care support for managing discomfort and preventing complications associated with venous disease. Referral to vascular specialists or phlebologists for more advanced treatments (e.g., sclerotherapy, endovenous ablation, surgery) if symptoms are severe, progressive, or complicated by ulceration or recurrent phlebitis.
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) - Symptom Management & Monitoring: Assessing and managing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in aging men commonly due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Symptoms include urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia (waking at night to urinate), weak or intermittent stream, hesitancy, straining, and incomplete bladder emptying. Assessment involves history, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, digital rectal exam (DRE) to assess prostate size/consistency, urinalysis to rule out UTI, and serum PSA discussion (for prostate cancer screening context).
• Anemia (Iron Deficiency, Vitamin B12/Folate Deficiency - Diagnosis & Management): Investigating causes of anemia (e.g., symptoms like fatigue, pallor, dyspnea on exertion, dizziness, palpitations, restless legs) through thorough history (diet, medications, menstrual history, GI symptoms), physical examination, and targeted blood tests (Complete Blood Count - CBC with differential and red cell indices, iron studies including ferritin, serum vitamin B12, serum folate, reticulocyte count, LDH, bilirubin if hemolysis suspected).

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

• Primary Care for Overuse & Repetitive Strain Injuries: Advising on activity modification, ergonomic adjustments, stretching/strengthening exercises, and pain relief measures for overuse injuries.
• Adolescent Health Care & Counseling (Incl. Sexual Health, Mental Health, Lifestyle): Supporting the unique physical, emotional, and social health needs of adolescents during a critical period of development.
• Insomnia & Sleep Disorder Management (Primary Care Approach): Comprehensive management of common sleep disorders to restore restorative sleep patterns and improve overall health and alertness.
• Assessment & Management of Anxiety, Depression & Mood Disorders: Supporting individuals experiencing persistent worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, low mood, loss of interest, or other mood disturbances with a patient-centered and collaborative approach.
• Travel Medicine Consultations (Preventative Advice & Routine/Travel Vaccinations): Offering essential travel health services and advice to protect your health while abroad, tailored to your destination and activities.

Note: This list highlights some of the key services offered by Dr Fortin. 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 Médecin de familles in QC and the ethical and professional standards set by The Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ).

At CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique, 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 Fortin frequently works with patients towards goals such as:

• With Dr Fortin's care, managing their child having issues with persistent allergies, eczema flare-ups, or food sensitivities aims for feeling much more confident and competent in managing minor common illnesses at home for themselves or their children after receiving clear, practical instructions and valuable anticipatory guidance from Dr Fortin, empowering patients to get back to what they love, like feeling confident enough in their stable health and physical abilities to make spontaneous, last-minute plans, embrace unexpected opportunities, or enthusiastically try new, unfamiliar activities or experiences.
• A key objective when treating feeling generally 'unwell' or 'off' without a clear reason for a while at Dr Fortin's clinic is seeing profoundly positive and lasting changes in their overall approach to health, preventative self-care, and health-seeking behaviors as a direct and inspiring result of Dr Fortin's ongoing education, consistent encouragement, and positive role modeling, supporting a comfortable return to actively and diligently engaging in their prescribed recovery process and rehabilitation program after an unexpected injury, a planned surgery, or a significant medical event by consistently following all professional advice and exercises.

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

Dr Fortin practices at CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique, situated in a family medical practice in central Chicoutimi neighborhood of Chicoutimi. The clinic is conveniently located near local community centers, schools, and shopping areas and is accessible via major local public transit routes. Ample parking is generally accessible close to the clinic entrance; please observe local signage.

How can I find a family doctor (Médecin de famille) in QC who is accepting new patients?

Finding a family doctor in Quebec who is accepting new patients can be challenging. The Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) website often has a "Find a Doctor" tool or list. You can also use the Guichet d'accès à un médecin de famille (GAMF). Asking friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations is also helpful. Contacting local community health centres or new patient clinics directly may yield results. Please be aware that it may take time to find a suitable physician.

Do I need a referral to see a family doctor (Médecin de famille) in QC?

Generally, you do not need a referral to see a family doctor in Quebec if they are accepting new patients. However, finding a doctor accepting new patients can be difficult. Provincial resources, such as the GAMF or the CMQ website, may assist you in finding a physician. A referral from a family doctor is usually required to see specialists.

Does Dr Fortin at CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique offer virtual (video) or phone appointments?

Yes, Dr Fortin at CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique offers virtual (video) and/or phone appointments for certain types of consultations when clinically appropriate. These can be convenient for discussing some test results, managing stable chronic conditions, prescription renewals for ongoing medications (not controlled substances), or for certain mental health follow-ups. However, many conditions, new problems, or situations requiring a physical examination will still necessitate an in-person visit for accurate assessment and diagnosis. Please discuss with our reception staff or Dr Fortin if a virtual appointment might be suitable for your specific needs. Provincial health plan coverage for virtual visits may vary; please check with CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique regarding any potential fees for uninsured virtual services.

What should I do if I have an urgent medical issue when CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique 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 CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique 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 CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique or Dr Fortin during regular hours to see if such arrangements are in place for their practice. Our clinic voicemail [(418) 541-1000] may also provide instructions or resources for after-hours care.

Is seeing a family doctor (Médecin de famille) covered by Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) in QC?

Medically necessary visits to a family doctor are typically covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) for eligible residents with a valid provincial health card. However, some services, such as cosmetic procedures, most travel medicine consultations, sick notes, insurance forms, and driver's medicals, may not be covered and may have associated fees. Please confirm with CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique if you have questions about specific services or potential fees.

What exactly is a family doctor (Médecin de famille) and what is their role?

A family doctor (Médecin de famille) is a physician who has completed post-graduate training in family medicine. They are skilled in providing continuous and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance, and preventive services to patients of all ages. This includes diagnosing and treating a vast array of illnesses, managing complex long-term health conditions, offering health education and counseling on lifestyle choices, and acting as your advocate and guide within the broader healthcare system.

CIUSSS du Saguenay Lac St-Jean, Hôpital de Chicout, Département de Santé Publique
305 rue Saint-Vallier, CP 263
Chicoutimi, QC, G7H 5H6

Phone: (418) 541-1000

Dr. Martin Fortin is regulated by the Code des professions & Loi médicale (Québec) in QC and is a registered member in good standing with The Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ).

Registration Number: 84158

Verify registration with The Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ): https://www.cmq.org/en/directory/physicians?number=84158

Family doctors like Dr Fortin 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.