FAQ’S

1. Health Care Benefits: Yes, we bill directly! That being said, not for every company. Here’s a list of the ones we have had success with – Manulife, SunLife, Great West Life, Chamber, Johnston Group/Maximum Benefits, Claims Exchange (formerly known as Johnson), Green Shield, Blue Cross, Equitable Life

• how much will my benefits cover – we have no way of knowing that as it is an agreement made between your employer and your benefit company. Here are some questions, you may want to ask:
  • What is my allowance / year for paramedical benefits such as massage, physiotherapy, acupuncture etc
  • Does my coverage start on a calendar or fiscal year
  • Do I have 100% coverage or is it a split amount (co-pay)
  • Is there a deductible
  • Will I need a prescription from my MD and how long is it good for
  • Can you pay my healthcare provider directly

2. How long should my first appointment be? We have different answers for this!

• Physiotherapy: your initial visit is for an hour for an assessment and a partial treatment if there is time still available. Every visit thereafter is a 1/2hr treatment
• Massage: that depends on what you would like out of your treatment. If you’ve never had a massage before and are unsure, we always recommend a shorter treatment 25-40mins. If you are coming for a specific condition and only wish that body part to be treated, the shorter visit will be sufficient unless it involves 2 or more body parts at this point, you would benefit from a longer treatment such as 40 or 55 mins. Best to ask when you call to make your initial appointment.
• Acupuncture: initial visit is 90 mins, enough time for a full assessment + a treatment. Every visit thereafter is 1 hour in length
• Bowen Therapy: each visit requires an hour length appointment time
• Exercise Coaching: Your initial assessment is 1 hour in length however there’s quite a bit of homework involved.

3. How often do I need to come? This is decided between you and your therapist and each individual treatment plan will be different. Remember our focus is on each one of you and we hate giving a blanket response.

4. What will I wear, and will I be naked? Yes, believe it or not, this is a very common and great question to ask. Privacy is top priority at our wellness centre and we want you to feel comfortable. This will be addressed with your therapist/practitioner and you can always undress to the level of your comfort. It really depends on the body part being treated and we do follow our College guidelines with keeping you covered and properly draped at ALL times. If you are coming for physiotherapy, exercise & lifestyle coaching you may wish to bring a pair of shorts and a tank top/sports bra.

5. How do I know if I need physiotherapy or massage? Good question… sometimes we can’t advise over the phone either. It depends on the condition and the end result you wish to achieve. If we have any doubt, we put you on hold and ask one of our trained therapists to help guide you in the right direction. Or we offer a FREE 15 min physiotherapy session where one of our PT’s can best determine your course of action.

6. What’s the difference between Acupuncture performed by your physiotherapists and your Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner?  Our physiotherapists focus on treating a muscle or nerve problem and usually involves treating the local area. This is an alternative technique to using massage or trigger point therapy. This works great with muscular/nerve conditions in conjunctions with other modalities. Whereas Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (TCMP) have a separate 4-year degree and utilises the Chinese medicine approach with reference to balancing someone’s Yin/Yang, Chi or energy. This is treating our client’s chief concerns, emotional state and overall body.

7. OMG… I just pulled my back and it hurts REALLY REALLY bad… best advice we can give you is to call our office. One of our trained team members can best assist you with your specific condition. This is not a cookie-cutter situation we can give a straight answer. Every person’s body is different and so should be the best advice.

8. I’ve been in a motor vehicle accident or work-related accident, what do I do? Again… call us once you’ve received all this required information.

A). Motor Vehicle Accident

1. • Name and address of your auto insurance
   • Adjusters name, phone & fax #, email is great too
   • Claim & policy numbers
   • Date of accident
   • Extended Healthcare Coverage name, policy and ID # (it is law that your work benefits be exhausted prior to billing your auto insurers)

B). WSIB

1. • Claim # and letter of approval
   • Adjudicators name and number
   • Date of injury

9. What is a lifestyle coach and what do they do?
A lifestyle or holistic lifestyle coach helps people who are struggling with their health. Lifestyle factors such as nutrition, proper hydration, mindset (thoughts/emotions), rest, breathing technique and exercise (the six foundation principles of health) are addressed to help people achieve their dreams.

10. What is an exercise coach and what do they do? How is that different from a personal trainer?
The C.H.E.K Institute takes a personal trainer to a higher level of understanding of the functions and dysfunctions of the human mind-body through assessment of factors including lifestyle, posture and movement. A C.H.E.K trained Exercise Coach or Practitioner possesses expert knowledge of both how the body moves and responds when it is in or out of balance. They are thought to be among the best-qualified personal trainers in the world, having undergone training far beyond the highest recognized international standards for personal trainers. So, they understand exactly what lifestyle and nutritional changes, stretches, exercise programs and other therapies are required to bring the mind-body back into balance. This is essential for achieving overall mind-body wellness, long-lasting results and a sense of purpose for life.