First Appointment & What to Expect
What to Expect?
Whether you have sustained a minor or a major injury, a single or multiple problems, an acute or chronic condition, a motor vehicle or work related injury, a strain or sprain, or are rehabilitating after a fracture or an operation, our Clarence Physiotherapists will assess the extent of the injury devise a programme for you and adjust it to your progress and if necessary refer you onto a specialist.
Many people come to see our Physiotherapists for assessment, advice and instruction on improvement of their posture, muscle imbalances and strengthening.
Our Physiotherapists treat a very wide range of injuries and conditions including:
- Sports, Training and Fitness Injuries
- Back and Neck Pain, Disc Bulges and sciatica
- Headaches, migraines and whiplash
- Shoulder Pain and Rotator cuff injuries and dislocations
- Knee Ligament tears and patella-femoral pain
- Ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis and Foot pain, Biomechanical problems and Shin Splints
- Muscle strains, Imbalances and Muscle re-education
- Recovery from Fractures, Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Surgery, Arthritis and Joint replacements
- Pre and post natal conditions
- Hip pain and Sacro-iliac dysfunctions
- Upper limb work-related problems and overuse problems
What should you expect from your initial consultation?
At your initial visit your physiotherapist will perform a thorough physical assessment enabling them to diagnose your condition. Once your condition has been diagnosed your physiotherapist will then explain it to you and specific treatment will be recommended and commenced to help solve your problem. Please arrive 15 minutes earlier to fill out paperwork, so you will have this completed before your appointment.
Do I need a Doctor’s referral to make an appointment?
A Doctor’s referral is welcome but not necessary if you are attending one of our clinics as a private patient. You do however require a referral from your Doctor if your problem is related to a workplace injury, motor vehicle accident, or if you are a Veterans’ Affairs patient.
Do I receive a rebate for physiotherapy treatment from my Private Health Insurance Fund?
If you are in a Private health Insurance Fund and are covered for Ancillary Cover or “extras’’ then you will be eligible to receive a rebate. Currently there is funding for treatment of chronic conditions via Medicare with a doctor’s referral for up to 5 visits per year- small gaps fees may apply.
If I am covered by my Private Health Insurance Fund how do I claim for my treatment?
At our clinics we use an electronic payments and claiming system called Tyro. Claims can also be made through Health Point and Digital Health Point available for clients with digital Private Health Cards.This system allows you to automatically claim your rebate from your Health Fund immediately following your treatment. All you need is to present your Health Fund Card to one of our receptionists who instantly process your claim. Once this is completed all you are required to do is pay the ‘gap amount’ (the difference between the treatment fee and the rebate you received from the Health Fund). This can be paid with cash, cheque, credit card or EFTPOS. Many Health insurances offer other ways to claim if your card is missing/not working, or in not synch with Tyro, via apps or by simply providing them with an itemised receipt after payment.
Is physiotherapy covered by Medicare?
There are some provisions for limited physiotherapy costs to be covered under Medicare. To qualify for this you must be suffering from a condition that has been present, or is likely to be present for at least 6 months and your GP must be currently using a personally managed EPC (Enhanced Primary Care) multidisciplinary plan. If you meet these two criteria then this may enable you to receive up to 5 Medicare funded treatments per year. To find out all necessary details ask your GP or contact us for more information.