Other Related Questions & Answers

Physical Therapy

1. Do I need a doctor’s referral to attend physical therapy?

No you do not need a doctor’s referral to attend physical therapy; however some insurance companies may require a doctor’s referral in order to reimburse you for any costs incurred.

2. Does Alberta Health Care pay for physical therapy?

Alberta Health Care no longer covers any physical therapy. There is minimal physical therapy funding through Alberta Health Services called the "Community Rehabilitation Program" (CRP).

3. Is there a wait list to get an appointment?

There is generally a wait list for Alberta Health Services CRP funded assessments. Private funded assessments can generally be accommodated within 24 to 48 hours.

4. How long will my first appointment take?

Initial assessments will take approximately one hour.

5. What can I expect during my first appointment?

We ask that patients arrive approximately 10 minutes prior to their first appointment in order to complete the necessary paperwork. Your physical therapist will take a history and complete an assessment. In order to get a clear understanding of your injury, joints above and below the affected area are generally assessed. As many issues which affect peripheral areas originate in the spine, it is likely that your neck and / or back may be assessed also. Your therapist will then discuss the assessment findings and treatment plan with you. With the exception of Alberta Health Services assessments, you will also receive an initial treatment during this visit.

6. How many appointments will I need?

The number of appointments you require will depend on your injury, the severity of your injury, how acute your injury is and your body’s reaction to treatment. Your therapist will discuss this with you at the time of your assessment. We see patients on average between 5-8 times but this can vary from patient to patient.  Some conditions require only one or two treatments.

7. Can I bring someone into the appointment with me?

Yes you may bring someone with you to your appointment. For patients under the age of 16 we actually require a parent or guardian to sign all documents and to consent to the treatment plan. Following the initial treatment parents are not required to attend but are welcome to attend at any time.

8. Do you have wheelchair access?

Yes, both of our sites are fully wheelchair accessible with adjacent wheelchair parking, sidewalk cutouts and wheelchair accessible washrooms.

9. Please explain when and how I pay for my treatments.

• If you are seen under the CRP program your assessment and treatments are funded by Alberta Health Services and no payment is due.
• If you are being seen following a motor vehicle accident we may be allowed to direct bill your insurance company for your treatments. Please see MVA questions below.
• If you are a private patient, clinic policy requires that you clear your account at the time of service. We do not direct bill any extended health care insurance companies with the exception of RCMP, DND and DVA patients. If payment at each treatment is an issue for you please see the office manager to discuss any available options.
• If you are being seen as a WCB patient the Workers Compensation Board is billed directly for all assessment/treatment. For further information please see WCB FAQ section of this site.