Our Registered Physical Therapists do not need a Doctor’s referral in order to assess and treat you. However, if you are asking an insurance company to cover all or part of your treatment cost, that insurance company may require you to provide a Doctor’s referral. For example: Worksafe BC, Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC), Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) or many of the Extended Health Insurers such as Sunlife, Pacific Blue Cross, Great West Life and Manulife.
No. There is no publicly fully-funded physiotherapy for treatment in private clinics in BC. However, some people qualify for a limited amount of coverage through the Medical Services Plan (MSP) of BC. These people qualify for “Premium Assistance” from MSP and therefore MSP will pay a portion of 10 visits per calendar year. These 10 visits are shared with Chiropractic, Naturopathy, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture and Podiatry. A Patient Visit Charge is required for payment at each visit.
Physiotherapy treatment visits range between 30 to 60 minutes in length. Variation depends on the treating therapist, the area(s) of problem and the types of treatment options eg. exercises, modalities etc.
No. The Physiotherapist will perform a thorough assessment on the first visit and determine appropriate treatment. Be assured that the physiotherapist will not treat you if he/she thinks you need further medical clarification before commencing treatment.
Bring or wear comfortable clothing. We are prepared to provide gowns and/or shorts for assessment & treatment, however you may be more comfortable in your own clothing. For example, you may wish to bring along your own shorts for your hip, knee or foot problem. Sleeveless shirts are good for shoulder problems. Comfortable shoes are a good idea for exercising in our gym area. And, there is usually some paperwork to be done on the first visit, so if you need reading glasses, bring them along as well.
