Frequently Asked Questions:
Why choose York Physiotherapy Associates?
At York Physiotherapy Associates, our focus is on your well-being and specific needs. As a result, you will receive ample one-on-one time with your physiotherapist. We do not utilize assistants or aides so that all physiotherapy treatments are provided by your physiotherapist. As well, we book a full hour for your initial physiotherapy consultation and only 2 patients per hour (at 1/2 hour intervals) for physiotherapy treatments in order to tailor treatment to your specific situation. All of our therapists are committed to continued post-graduate education to refine their knowledge bases and skill sets. Some of our physiotherapists are also involved in the teaching and/or mentoring of students at the post-graduate level.
Do I need a Doctor's referral?
Strictly speaking the answer is No. You do not need a physician's referral to see a physiotherapist, registered massage therapist or chiropodist at our clinic. All of our health professionals are registered and qualified as direct access professionals, meaning that they can assess and treat you without a referral. Be assured that our health professionals will always refer you to your family physician if they feel that you require any medical consultation or investigation that they can not provide.
Be aware, however, that even though it is not required by law, some extended health plans still require a physician's prescription for physiotherapy and most still do for registered massage therapy in order to be reimbursed. You should check your plan first to see if this is the case. The vast majority of plans accept a chiropodist's prescription for custom foot orthotics coverage which we can provide, but the rare plan may require a physician's prescription. Once again, it is best to check your plan's specifics prior to obtaining services.
How long are my appointments?
For physiotherapy, your first appointment will be a one hour booking for an initial consultation with your physiotherapist. Although this first session will mainly consist of assessment, there is usually time to initiate a small amount of treatment as well. Subsequent treatment visits are 30 minute one-on-one bookings with your physiotherapist. However, for these visits you will likely be in the clinic longer than the 30 minutes (usually around 45 minutes in total) as your physiotherapist may also use modalities such as electro-stimulation, acupuncture or exercises following your one-on-one time which are all included as part of the physiotherapy session.
For registered massage therapy, it is usually recommended (but not absolutely required) that your first appointment be booked for one hour. Following visits can be booked for 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes or longer depending on your preference or advice of the therapist.
How are the clinic's services covered?
Most extended health/employee benefits plans cover the services of a physiotherapist or registered massage therapist and custom foot orthotics provided by a chiropodist. You should check your plan to inquire into the specific coverage available to you.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, your auto insurance plan will cover any of the necessary assessment and treatment services. A treatment plan written by your therapist for approval by your insurer may be required depending on the nature of your injuries and time elapsed from the date of the accident. You can phone the clinic or speak with your therapist for more details.
Please note that our services are not covered by OHIP. In the event of a WSIB (worker's compensation) claim, we do not bill WSIB directly. You may be eligible, however, for partial or full reimbursement from WSIB for any of the costs you incur. Please talk with your WSIB adjudicator if this is the case.
What are my payment options?
At this time, the only extended health insurers that have direct electronic billing options are: Greenshield and Blue Cross for all of our services, Great-West Life for physiotherapy and registered massage therapy, as well as Sun Life for physiotherapy only. We are able to bill these plans directly. Otherwise, you can submit to your plan in order to recover your expenses.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Debit/Interac, cash and cheque. A proper receipt will be issued so that you may send it to your private/extended health plan for reimbursement if applicable.