Dr. Michelle Cinq-Mars – Family Doctor | Sorel-Tracy, QC

Dr. Michelle Cinq-Mars is a Médecin de famille. Practicing at Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane in Sorel-Tracy, QC, she is dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive, and patient-centered family medical care. She is registered with The Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) and practices in accordance with the standards set by this regulatory body and the principles of modern family medicine. Her focus is 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. Michelle Cinq-Mars completed her Family Medicine (2010), 1976. She brings valuable clinical experience to the practice. She 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 fostering continuity of care and building long-term relationships with patients and their families, providing a trusted medical home; advocating for patients' needs within the healthcare system and coordinating care effectively with specialists and community services. She offers consultations in French.

Dr. Michelle Cinq-Mars 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

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Assessment & Management (All Ages): A comprehensive and collaborative approach to ADHD care, addressing core symptoms and associated impairments across the lifespan, often involving a multidisciplinary team approach.
• Depression & Other Mood Disorders (e.g., Dysthymia, Seasonal Affective Disorder - Management): Providing compassionate, evidence-informed primary care and management strategies for those affected by depression and other common mood disorders, with a focus on recovery and long-term stability.
• Insomnia & Chronic Sleep Disturbances: Helping you identify and address factors contributing to poor sleep, and develop effective, sustainable strategies to improve sleep quality, duration, and daytime alertness and functioning.

Common Chronic Conditions

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - Primary Care Management: A supportive approach to IBS, working with patients to identify triggers and develop effective coping mechanisms.
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) - Early to Moderate Stages: Primary care strategies to protect and preserve kidney health, including tight blood pressure and glycemic control, and education on kidney-friendly habits.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) & Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) - Chronic Management: Ongoing management of chronic GERD (acid reflux) and PUD, including lifestyle modifications (diet, weight, smoking cessation), prescription of acid-suppressing medications (PPIs, H2 blockers), H. pylori testing and eradication, and monitoring for complications or need for endoscopy.
• Osteoarthritis & Other Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain (e.g., Chronic Back/Neck Pain, Fibromyalgia): Long-term support and care for managing the symptoms of degenerative joint disease and other chronic musculoskeletal pain, focusing on self-management and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Joint Muscle Pain

• Mechanical Low Back & Neck Pain (Acute, Subacute, Chronic - Uncomplicated): Helping patients understand the nature of their mechanical spinal pain, empowering them with self-management techniques, and discouraging reliance on passive treatments or unnecessary imaging for uncomplicated cases, in line with clinical practice guidelines.
• Fibromyalgia & Other Widespread Chronic Pain Syndromes - Primary Care Diagnosis & Multimodal Management: Working collaboratively with individuals experiencing chronic widespread pain to develop personalized self-management strategies, set realistic functional goals, and coordinate care effectively with other healthcare providers such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and rheumatologists (for diagnostic confirmation or complex cases).
• 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.

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

• Assessment of Acute Abdominal Pain, Nausea, Vomiting & Diarrhea: First-line medical assessment for sudden gastrointestinal issues to guide treatment and rule out emergent conditions.
• Chronic Pain Management (Musculoskeletal, Neuropathic - Primary Care Approach): Helping individuals understand and cope with chronic pain, aiming to improve daily function, sleep, mood, and overall quality of life.
• Weight Management & Healthy Weight Strategies: Personalized advice and comprehensive care plans for healthy weight loss, prevention of unhealthy weight gain, or management of obesity-related health conditions.
• 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 Cinq-Mars. 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 Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane, 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 Cinq-Mars frequently works with patients towards goals such as:

• If concerns about their child's hearing or vision, or a failed school screening has put consistently maintaining good, ergonomic posture and avoiding musculoskeletal discomfort while working for extended periods at a computer station, office desk, or in other sedentary job roles on hold, Dr Cinq-Mars works with patients toward having their children's physical growth parameters, crucial cognitive and language development, and social-emotional well-being consistently and meticulously monitored by Dr Cinq-Mars during regular well-child visits, with any emerging concerns or developmental deviations addressed promptly, appropriately, and effectively, helping them regain their previous level of function.
• For patients where their child complaining of stomach aches frequently, possibly related to stress or diet is a concern, Dr Cinq-Mars focuses on plans that lead to having a clear, actionable, and well-understood plan, along with readily available support from Dr Cinq-Mars, for effectively managing an acute flare-up of a chronic condition like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Chronic Migraine, or Rheumatoid Arthritis (often in co-management with specialists), supporting their ability to feeling mentally clear, exceptionally sharp, highly focused, and consistently productive throughout their demanding workday, during important decision-making processes, or when engaged in complex cognitive tasks.

Your personalized healthcare plan, developed in discussion with Dr Cinq-Mars, 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. Cinq-Mars practices at Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane, situated in a family medical practice in central Sorel-Tracy neighborhood of Sorel-Tracy. The clinic is conveniently located near local community centers, schools, and shopping areas and is accessible via major local public transit routes. Street parking and nearby public or paid lots typically offer convenient options for visitors.

What should I do if I have an urgent medical issue when Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane 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 Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane 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 Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane or Dr Cinq-Mars during regular hours to see if such arrangements are in place for their practice. Our clinic voicemail [(450) 746-3148] may also provide instructions or resources for after-hours care.

What does 'preventative care' involve with a family doctor like Dr Cinq-Mars?

Preventative care with Dr Cinq-Mars focuses on keeping you healthy and identifying potential health problems before they become serious or cause symptoms. This involves a range of services tailored to your age, gender, and risk factors, such as routine check-ups (periodic health exams), age-appropriate cancer screenings (e.g., Pap tests, mammograms, colon cancer screening, PSA discussions), immunizations (flu shots, travel vaccines, routine boosters), blood pressure and cholesterol checks, screening for diabetes, counseling on healthy lifestyle choices (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, responsible alcohol use), and risk assessments for various conditions. The primary goal is to prevent illness, detect diseases early when they are most treatable, and promote your long-term health and well-being.

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 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Quebec 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 clinics that focus on new patients directly may also yield results. Be aware that it may take time and persistence.

How long do appointments with Dr Cinq-Mars typically last?

Appointment times with Dr Cinq-Mars vary based on the reason for the visit. For a quick follow-up or a straightforward issue, 10-15 minutes is common. For annual physicals, initial consultations, or if you have several health concerns to discuss, Dr Cinq-Mars will usually book a longer slot, like 30 minutes or sometimes more. Always try to be specific about your needs when booking your appointment at Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane to ensure enough time is set aside with Dr Cinq-Mars to address your concerns thoroughly.

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 that doctor is accepting new patients. However, finding a family doctor who is accepting new patients can be challenging. Resources like the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Quebec website or local health authority websites may be helpful in your search. A referral from a family doctor is usually required to see medical specialists.

I have multiple health problems. How does Dr Cinq-Mars handle complex care?

If you have several health issues, Dr Cinq-Mars is well-equipped to be your central point of care. Her role includes understanding how your different conditions and their treatments might impact each other, helping you to navigate the healthcare system, and ensuring that all aspects of your health are considered in your overall treatment plan. Dr Cinq-Mars will work with you and other specialists to manage your health comprehensively.

Is seeing a family doctor (Médecin de famille) covered by Régie de l&#x27;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 or certain types of medical notes, may not be covered and may have associated fees. Please confirm with Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane 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, 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.

Service de santé Rio Tinto Fer et Titane
1625 Rte Marie-Victorin
Sorel-Tracy, QC, J3R 1M6

Phone: (450) 746-3148

Dr. Michelle Cinq-Mars 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: 76095

Verify registration with The Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ): https://www.cmq.org/en/directory/physicians?number=76095

Family doctors like Dr Cinq-Mars 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.