Frequently Asked Questions
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 - the intake forms confirm your personal information, allow you to put any insurance on file for us to submit, collect a health history, and go over our consent and privacy policies for the clinic. Treatment cannot begin until the therapist can look over your health history. Our intake forms are sent over email and can be fully completed online using whatever device you use to check your email. We ask that the forms get completed before coming in for your first appointment to make sure that no time is taken away from your treatment. These forms are required to be updated yearly.
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!
Is physiotherapy a service covered by OHIP?
We are one of the few OHIP-funded clinics in Brantford, so wait times can be long. The Ministry of Health provides us with a cap on the number of clients we can see under OHIP in a year, so we spread that out through all 12 months. We have to abide by the regulations set out by the Ministry, which is why we are unable to treat a client for a specific issue more than once. If a doctor’s referral states that an issue has worsened or there is a flare up, then we are able to treat you again, but the requisition must be specific to that degree.
How do I know if I qualify for OHIP?
There are four qualifying factors for the Publicly-Funded Physiotherapy program provided through OHIP:
Being 19 years of age or younger
Being 65 years of age or older
Being on a provincial support program (ODSP or OW)
Having been hospitalised overnight, and needing treatment for the reason you were hospitalised
You must have a doctor’s referral specific to your injury and have it to our clinic either by dropping it off, emailing it to us, or having the Doctors office fax it to us before an appointment can be booked. The PFP program through OHIP is designed to treat acute injuries (an injury that occurred suddenly) but can also help you design a program with a physiotherapist for dealing with chronic pain. We are only able to treat an injury once. If you have a flare-up of a previously-treated issue, or your injury worsens, then you can also utilise this program, but a new referral that states your previous condition has been exacerbated must be provided.
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 the services we offer?
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.
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. We are unable to find out that information for you so you will need to reach out to your insurance company to inquire about a referral.
Are you able to treat children?
We have RMTs and a Chiropractic Doctor on staff who are delighted to treat children as young as infants, however our physiotherapists usually recommend children under the age of 4 see a paediatric physiotherapist.
Your website says that you provide acupuncture, but there is no acupuncturist on your roster. How do I book an appointment for acupuncture?
Four out of our six physiotherapists - Alison, Adam, Kevin, and Anna, as well as, Dr. Lee our Chiropractor- are licensed to provide acupuncture as a part of their scope of practice. Our therapists use acupuncture to treat pain using a more Western style of treatment. Unfortunately if you’re looking for acupuncture to treat issues including infertility, smoking cessation, acne, or tinnitus to name a few, our therapists won’t be able to help. However, if you’re experiencing muscle tension or looking for some pain relief, our therapists are more than happy to help you explore your options.
Do your therapists have any areas of concentration?
Alison Christensen, PT, is a physiotherapist who has additional training to treat vestibular issues, as well as pelvic floor.
Kevin Giulekas, PT, is a Fellow with the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (F-CAMPT), as well as has his certificate in dry needling.
Anna Michalski, PT, is a physiotherapist who has additional training in knee and shoulder care, as well as, hospital experience working with clients in deconditioning and cardio rehabilitation.
Adam Leca, PT, is a physiotherapist who has additional training in Dermo-Neuro Modulation (DNM) therapy. For a detailed understanding of what this is take some time to read our “Healing Touch: The Role of DermoNeuroModulation (DNM) in Physical Therapy” blog.
What do I do if I’ve been in a car accident?
If you are seeking treatment after a motor vehicle accident (MVA) we can certainly help! Before calling to make an appointment you will need to have started a claim with your automobile insurance company. We need the claim number and insurance details to get the ball rolling. Your treatment will start with an hour-long assessment with one of our physiotherapists and depending on the extent of your injuries, your therapist will make recommendations on how to proceed with treatment. Take a read through of our “In a Motor Vehicle Accident? What You Need to Know!” blog for a comprehensive explanation of our MVA process.
What can I expect from a physiotherapy assessment?
Your first appointment with one of our physiotherapists is an hour session designed to get to the root of your issue. Your physiotherapist 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 - looking to see your strength and weaknesses, your range of motion, and watching closely to make sure they catch the smallest 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. The assessment will finish with your therapist sitting down with you to complete a Plan of Care. The Plan of Care puts on paper your goals, what you’re expecting out of treatment (both your expectations for the physiotherapist and their expectations for you) as well as different modalities that they plan on using for your treatment including laser, acupuncture, ultrasound, etc. The Plan includes a suggested schedule for booking your follow up appointments to ensure that you get the most out of your time.
Will I get treatment during my assessment?
Whether or not you receive treatment during a physiotherapy assessment can be dependent on the injury, the complexity of your health history, and a variety of other factors. Our therapists aim to provide some treatment during the assessment but it’s never guaranteed.
Why do I need to be reassessed if my physiotherapist has treated me for an issue before?
If it’s been more than three months since your last appointment, our physiotherapists need to have an hour with you for your first visit back to ensure that any changes that may have occurred in that time period are being addressed - 30 minutes is often not enough time to go through all the details, no matter how frequently you’ve seen them in the past. It also makes sure that you have enough time to be treated after they’ve reassessed so you walk out the door feeling better than when you came in.
What should I wear to my physiotherapy sessions?
We ask that you wear clothes appropriate for your injury - if you’re seeking treatment for your shoulder, don’t wear a turtleneck! If you’re dealing with knee pain or issues with your gait we also ask that you bring a pair of running shoes.
How many sessions will it take to get better?
The number of appointments recommended by your physiotherapist will vary depending on your injury. Our therapists prepare a Plan of Care with you during your assessment to outline the number of appointments they would like to see you for, so that you have an idea of what to book with the staff at the front desk. We use our Plan of Care as a prescription - if the plan is followed and you’re as committed to your care as your therapist, you should reach your desired outcome as they’ve outlined with you.
Please remember when thinking about treatment that it’s not just about eliminating your pain - your therapist can help you set up a plan (of strengthening and ) to help your body grow and learn, and to help prevent the pain you’ve experienced from coming back. Our therapists love working with clients for preventative measures, keeping you in top form so you’re less likely to endure injuries moving forwards.
How do I choose a therapist?
Give us a call if there’s something specific you’re looking to have treated! Our therapists have different treatment styles so trying a few therapists can be beneficial. All of our therapists also have bios available for perusing on our website if you’re looking to get an idea of personalities! It’s important that not only their treatment helps, but you find someone you can get along with for the hour or so you’re in treatment.
Am I “cheating” on my therapist if I book an appointment with someone else?
Never! All of our therapists treat in many different ways with varying techniques, and most will encourage you to book with a couple of therapists to help you find the best fit. Your therapist is more concerned with what is right for you, not who you’re seeing for treatment. All of our therapists have access to each others’ notes so they can take a look and see what sort of treatment you’re used to, or if you have areas of concern to address.
Do I have to get undressed for a massage?
Our therapists always tell clients to undress to their comfort level. Therapists are able to treat over clothing if that is your preference, but the most efficient treatment is skin-on-skin. If you’re receiving treatment for shoulder pain then certainly feel free to keep your pants on, but it can be difficult to treat back pain with bra straps in the way.
What does “AX” mean on my appointment?
If it’s your first time with us, your appointment will have “ax” tagged on the end to indicate that you’re a new client - it stands for “assessment”. This will also be on appointments if you’re seeing a physiotherapist for a new issue, or if you’re a returning client coming in for a massage and it’s been over a year since your last treatment, or if you’ve been seeing us for physiotherapy and it’s your first time working with one of our RMTs. It indicates to the therapist that they should take a look at your health history to see if there have been any changes.