A Few Updates and Reminders for 2023
Starting something new is hard, and especially so when it comes to your health and wellness. By making the decision to no longer live in pain you’ve taken the first step on the path to healing and we feel very grateful here at Kneaded Care to be taking this journey with you. It may be intimidating walking into a new environment so here are answers to some frequent questions we get from new clients.
How do I know which therapy is right for me?
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start when wanting to feel better, and our therapists are here to guide you through the decision making process. Our physiotherapists, chiropractor and osteopath all offer free, no obligation 15 minute consultations to help answer any and all questions you may have before making any sort of financial commitment. Our clinic works as a team, so if you end up coming to see our osteopath and they feel as though physiotherapy may be a good fit as well, then they’ll make that recommendation. Cross referrals through the clinic are quite common and you’ll frequently see your treating therapists meeting to discuss your care as you make your way between treatment rooms - through team collaboration you have a full team behind you and who wouldn’t want that?
What can I expect from an assessment?
Your initial appointment with either one of our physiotherapists, osteopath or chiropractor is a one hour session designed to get to the root of your concern(s). Your clinician will go through some routine health care questions (When did your issue begin? What helps make it better? Is there anything that exacerbates your problem?), as well as go through your health history with you. They will take you through some testing dependent on your injury, where they will look to see your strengths and weaknesses, your range of motion, and will watch closely to make sure they catch the smallest of details. Our therapists love working hands-on with their clients and have a variety of tools in their belt to help you get to where you want to be.
Will I get treatment during my assessment?
Our osteopath and chiropractor do provide treatment during their assessment appointment, however treatment during a physiotherapy assessment can not be guaranteed. Whether or not you receive treatment during any assessment can be dependent on your injury, the complexity of your health history, and a variety of other factors.
What sort of paperwork do I have to complete before my first appointment?
Before your upcoming appointment can begin it's imperative that the intake forms get completed. These intake forms confirm your personal information, allow you to put any insurance on file for the care coordinators to submit, collect a health history, and go over our consent and privacy policies for the clinic. Our intake forms are sent through email and can be fully completed online using whatever device you prefer to check your email with. We ask that the forms be complete prior to coming in for your first appointment to make sure that no time has to be taken away from your treatment. This also allows the therapist to review the health history before commencing treatment.
Don’t have email? No problem! We can have the intake forms completed with pen and paper as well, but we ask that you arrive 10-15 minutes early for your appointment to ensure that you have time to complete them as again, they must be complete before treatment can begin and we want you to have the full session with your therapist.
Do I need a referral to book an appointment?
We do not require a referral from a doctor to treat clients privately. Referrals are required if you’re booking under OHIP, and insurance companies may require referrals in order to pay for treatment. Whether or not a referral is required for your insurance plan is not an answer we can get for you; you will need to reach out to your insurance company to inquire about a referral.
Can you direct bill to my insurance?
We are able to direct bill most major insurance companies, but it all depends on the plan that your/your partner’s/your parent’s employer has set up with the company. We are not able to get the details until we try to submit a claim, so if you have questions about what is covered, it’s best to contact your insurance company directly. We are not able to tell if you need a doctor’s referral before we submit the claim. We also cannot tell you how much there is left in your plan, although we can tell you the amount that we’ve submitted. If you’re getting ready to contact your insurance company, these are the questions you should be prepared to ask:
Do you have coverage for our services?
Is a referral from a physician required in order for treatment to be covered?
Is electronic submission allowed for your plan?
Can the clinic be paid directly by the insurance company?
Make sure you ask to whom the benefits are assigned - we can only bill if the insurance company can send the payment directly to the clinic. If payment is directed to the client then you will have to pay for your appointment up front, take home your receipt and submit on your own behalf. Please note that we advise clients to bring alternative methods of payment should an issue arise with the attempt to submit to insurance. This ensures that our therapists will be paid should any issues arise.
What do I do if I have to bring my kids with me to an appointment?
At Kneaded Care we understand that our clients have very busy schedules, and it can be a difficult balancing act between taking care of yourself and taking care of your family. As a healthcare facility we are responsible for minimizing the risk of disruption to treatment, and as such have established times of day when children are welcome to accompany their parents/guardians to appointments. These times vary depending on the treating therapist; please confirm with the front desk whether or not we are able to accommodate your children during your appointment.
If you must bring your children to an appointment, please call to let us know ahead of time. School-aged children are welcome to sit quietly in the waiting area during your appointment, or may accompany you into the treatment room. We appreciate your understanding.