What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a health care profession which assists people to restore, maintain and maximize their strength, function, movement, and overall well-being. The terms "physiotherapy" and "physical therapy" mean the same thing and are used interchangeably, as are the terms “physiotherapist” and “physical therapist”.
The physiotherapists at Nova are able to assess, diagnose, and treat symptoms of illness, injury and disability. Physiotherapy includes rehabilitation, as well as prevention of injury, and promotion of health, fitness and wellness.
Do I need a doctor's referral to attend physiotherapy?
No! You do not need a referral to attend a physiotherapy appointment as this is a direct access service. This means that a doctor's referral is not required to access care. Some insurance providers may require a doctor's referral so we recommend consulting your insurance provider to determine the specifics of your plan.
Do you direct bill insurance companies?
Yes! We can direct bill a majority of insurance plans for physiotherapy services. This includes Canada Life, Great-West Life, Blue Cross, Sunlife, Green Shield, GMS, Manulife, Desjardins and the Chamber - among others!
If you sustained a work or automobile accident in Saskatchewan we are also able to directly bill SGI and WCB for physiotherapy services.
Note: We recommend checking the details of your specific plan in regards to coverage amounts and requirements. Not all plans are eligible for direct billing.
Do you treat WCB and SGI Injuries?
Yes! Our physiotherapists treat injuries that occur at work (WCB) and motor vehicle injuries (SGI). We direct bill to both WCB and SGI. If you have been provided with a claim number prior to your first physiotherapy appointment, please inform our administration team!
What will my first visit look like?
When you arrive at Nova you will be greeted at the front door. We will confirm your appointment and ask you to remove your outdoor shoes if you are able. If you have not done the intake forms online we will provide you a paper copy to fill in when you get to the clinic.
At the start of your appointment, your physiotherapist will introduce themselves to you and begin the session by listening to the reason for your visit. They will take a medical history and perform an assessment which will look at how you perform certain movements, how the joints and muscles are moving and if there are any weaknesses.
Your physiotherapist will then detail the findings from their assessment, recommend a treatment plan and answer any questions you may have. Treatment may include hands-on techniques such as joint mobilizations and massage and stretching techniques. Exercise instruction during the session and exercises to be completed at home may be given as part of your plan.
Remember, we listen to you to help create the treatment plan! We encourage you to ask questions you have throughout your session.
What should I wear to my physiotherapy appointment?
While we do recommend wearing clothing that is easy to move in, ultimately we want you to wear whatever makes you comfortable! This may include a comfortable T-shirt or tank top, shorts and athletic shoes.
It can be helpful if your physiotherapist can see the area that is being worked on. For example; wearing shorts for the knee, wearing a short sleeve shirt for the shoulder and being able to remove your shirt (if you are comfortable doing so) for the back. You can change in clinic prior to your appointment.
What is your cancellation policy?
For all physiotherapy appointments, providing less than 24 hours' notice to change or cancel an appointment will result in a full appointment fee being charged. This fee cannot be billed to insurance providers and must be paid on or before your next visit.
Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or not showing up leaves a hole in your therapists' day, affects your treatment plan and recovery, and prevents other client's from receiving treatment.
We understand life can be hectic and unforeseeable events can occur that require you to change or miss your appointment. Please talk to your therapist about the reason for your cancellation. With proper notice, we are more than happy to accommodate changes to your appointment time!
What safety measures are in place at the clinic?
Nova Physiotherapy has a strict cleaning regime in place and there is readily available hand sanitize throughout the clinic. Staff members will continue regular hand hygiene practices and stay home if they are unwell.
Nova Physiotherapy follows client-directed masking. This means our physiotherapists will follow the lead of the client. Please inform a staff member if you prefer your therapist to wear a mask. Our goal is to make you as comfortable as possible and we are happy to put on a mask in order to do so. If a client is wearing a mask, the physiotherapist will do so as well.
