Latest

Cervical self-test kits are now available for pick up

Cervical self-test kits are a new way to screen for cervical cancer, as an alternative route for routine pap smear testing. To increase access, patients can now pick up a kit from here at the medical office, to take home and test. Click here for more information from BC Cancer about home cervical kits.

March 14, 2024

Clinic room upgrades complete

The clinic rooms completed their robust upgrades. Features include room-specific thermostats, full-spectrum LED lighting, even more seismic engineering, vaulted ceilings, enhanced noise dampening, and bigger windows. The office is also now completely free of fossil-fuel heating, with hydronic radiant heat courtesy of a new high-capacity air-to-water heat pump system. Next up for the years ahead is solar panels onto the roof, to run the clinic completely on sunshine. Click here for a tour of the newly upgraded rooms.

February 17, 2024

New Reception front desk

A new custom desk was created for the front reception area using: two locally-milled live-edge cedar trunks, parts of a metal cabinet, a bamboo table top and some scrap stainless steel.

August 1, 2022

Me'Chosen Medical celebrates 10 years

Me'Chosen Medical celebrated its first 10 years of helping patients in the southern Vancouver Island communities. A cake was decorated, featuring a leaf that was trimmed from one of the lemon trees out in front of the office.

March 23, 2022

Welcoming the Me'Chosen Medical contest winners

Dr. Ramnik Bath and Larisha Basilantony were the lucky winners of a pair of one-way plane tickets to Victoria, from anywhere in Canada. They won the eagle-eyed contest that Me'Chosen Medical ran at the annual College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Family Medicine Forum (FMF) conference. Ramnik and Larisha popped by the medical office to visit, as part of their tour of southern Vancouver Island.

February 26, 2022

Cardiologist Dr. Gladstone visiting clinic at Me'Chosen Medical

Dr. Peter Gladstone (at left in photo), a cardiologist in Victoria, has started a visiting clinic for cardiac patients, here in Metchosin. It is currently held every three months, usually on a Friday. As teaching faculty, Dr. Gladstone also sometimes brings along a medical student or resident, for example Dr. Naweed (at right in photo).

December 8, 2020

Me'Chosen Medical at Family Medicine Forum 2020

Me'Chosen Medical attended the 2020 Canadian national conference for family physicians, in its inaugural digital experience. More information at Virtual FMF 2020.

November 4, 2020

Dr. Hyams specialized clinic for FM, CFS and Lyme at Me'Chosen Medical

Welcome to Dr. Ian Hyams and medical office assistant Jennifer Blum, who have begun providing a visiting clinic, for Vancouver Island patients with FM/CFS/Lyme, so that they can access treatment expertise locally. More information at Hyams Clinic.

July 22, 2020

'CoVictory' garden completed

With CoVid, families are having more time to grow their own food at home in their yard. There is now a 'CoVictory' garden on the pathway to the office, to help patients who are new to growing their own vegetables.

April 30, 2020

Coronavirus protocols are in place

The office has introduced coronavirus protections. Telephone, video, in-person and housecall appointments are all available. For respiratory conditions, there is a second, separate entrance which leads directly to a negative-pressure isolation room. Office managers are able to work remotely from home. Staff have full gown/mask/glove PPE as needed. Masks are available to arriving patients who need one. Magazines and toys have been set aside. In-person appointments are buffered in both time and space. Patients can enjoy the outdoor waiting room. The nurse is also able to do injections outdoors or in-vehicle as desired by the patient.

February 2, 2020

Me'Chosen Medical booth awarded 'Most Innovative' at national family doctor annual convention

The approximately 4000 Canadian family physicians who attend the national annual Family Medicine Forum (FMF) voted to select the Me'Chosen Medical booth as this year's most innovative. Congrats to the team and community for the achievement! Read the newspaper article for full details.

November 1, 2019

Ocean soundtrack now available

The looped soundtracks for the ocean beach in front of the office are now available as downloadable MP3s. These are available for those requesting them for their phones to help with noises interrupting sleep. There are two soundtracks listed below to choose from (can right click and choose 'Save Link As...' to download):
Three foot waves
Calm waters

October 31, 2019

Blue ribbon at Metchosin Day fair

The office garnered a blue ribbon for best pineapple and citrus basket in Metchosin Day's produce and vegetables contest. The pineapple was donated to be a draw prize for participants in the Metchosin Day annual 5km run, and went home to its new adoptive owner.

September 8, 2019

Presentation at 2018 Family Medicine Forum

Dr. O'Connor attended the 2018 Family Medicine Forum in Toronto, with the research poster entitled Wither the Office Plant: Growing plant-based foods inside the family practice office.

November 15, 2018

Electrocautery now available

Electrocautery is now available in the office. This allows removing pathologic skin lesions with electricity.

August 1, 2018

Fruit greenhouse online

Spring has sprung. To help encourage consideration of implementing a plant-based whole-food diet to reduce some burden of chronic diseases, there is a new greenhouse next to the patient parking lot. The initial crop is lemons, limes, Chilean guavas, as well as some starter plants.

March 11, 2018

Presenting at national family physician conference

Dr. Robert O'Connor, Dr. Pete Hobza and Jazlin Mayhue attended and presented their research at the Family Medicine Forum in Vancouver. The Family Medicine Forum is the annual National conference for Canadian family physicians. The research caught the attention of the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), who was in attendance, who invited the team to share it more widely, so here it is at CMAJ blogs.

November 10, 2016

Kody joins the team

Kody the Kodiak has joined the team. Hand-carved in Metchosin, he welcomes young and old on the way to the office. Many thanks to sculptor Dave for the kind addition.

October 23, 2016

First pineapple harvest complete

The first batch of office-grown pineapples have been harvested. Eaten one day in the office, the pineapples taste a bit zestier than ones from the grocery store.

April 5, 2016

Housecall bike wins 'Best Bike Accessory' at Metchosin Day

Metchosin Day now has a section for bicycles, including ribbons in various categories, helping to promote healthy bicycling in the community. The year's best bike accessory went to the housecall's bike custom built rack, that snaps to a modded detachable doctors bag, so that opthalmoscopes and other tools don't fall off en route to a housecall. Thanks to Al Bergman for the custom welding and fabrication. Competition in Metchosin for best bike accessory was not as tight as the battle for best pie, yet.

September 15, 2015

Housecall bicycle is complete

Al Bergman, of Berg Bikes, has completed construction of the housecall bicycle. It was picked up from his home-based wheelchair-accessible manufacturing shop in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island.

August 6, 2015

Handcrafted all-wood exam tables arrive

Two handcrafted examination tables arrived for the office. Built by hand by a local carpenter, the tables feature all-wood construction in the stirrups, drawers, and sliding platforms.

October 25, 2013

Dr. Seuss: Quilt donation

Upon hearing of the donated Dr. Seuss 'Cat In the Hat', Christien Shipton, a Sooke quilter kindly opted to create a custom, handmade Dr. Seuss quilt. The quilt was given to Dr. O'Connor to deliver for the special needs children of the area. It was delivered in September to the Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island at their motorcar gathering fundraiser.

September 15, 2013

Five-millionth cruise ship passenger cruises by medical office

Today marked the five-millionth passenger into Ogden Point in Victoria. The ship carrying the passenger cruised through the glimmering waters in front of the medical office, enjoying the summer day.
Times Colonist coverage.

August 30, 2013

Baby eaglets are born on Delgada Road nest

There is a resident bald eagle nest on Delgada Road, a few doors up from the office driveway toward Metchosin Road. If you listen for the peeping, then look closely with the binoculars, you can see the camouflaged baby eaglet (circled in red) poking out of edge of the nest.

June 20, 2013

Rotating local artwork arrives

The hanging system is up, allowing artwork on office walls to change every few weeks. If you are a local artist, and interested in having your work featured, please drop a line!

June 15, 2013

'Cat In The Hat' comes back To Victoria's Children's Hospital

Dr. O'Connor played a small part in helping out the kids and team at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health recover part of their cultural history. Further details at:
Victoria Times Colonist
Victoria News
A followup letter from someone who was a patient at the Solarium in the 1950s

June 13, 2013

Dr. Dan and Dr. Joan win Citizens of the Year

Congratulations to Metchosin physicians Dr. Dan O'Connell and Dr. Joan Rosenberg for their well-earned award, recognizing their many years of service!

September 9, 2012

Rural medicine presentation

A presentation on rural medicine at the Metchosin Community Hall was successful with members of community filling the aisles of the small venue. Thanks to the many organizers and attendees who helped make it a success!

April 18, 2012

Victoria 8K road race

While awaiting to start the new practice in Metchosin, Dr. O'Connor completed the Victoria 8K road race, through downtown Victoria. Dr. O'Connor used this special performance-enhancing-garment to reach his goal of a Top 80 finish in the Victoria 8K. By this, he means he was able to top the finish times of some of the 80-year-olds.

October 9, 2011