Do I need a doctor's referral to come to physiotherapy?In the main, no referral is required
You will require a referral if you are involving
What should I expect at my first consultation?We will taking a thorough history relating to your complaint and ask you a series of questions regarding your area of discomfort. It includes information about your lifestyle such as your level of physical activity and your work environment together with any relevant past medical history. This can help us work out the diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
After your history has been taken, we will perform a physical assessment, usually involving active movements of the affected parts. You may be asked to remove some of your clothing, therefore, it is helpful if you are able to attend the visit in gym clothes. Your physiotherapist will assess or by gently feeling your painful areas as you perform the movements. We will use the history and the physical assessment to diagnose your problem and formulate a treatment plan. This often involves mobilisation or moving the affected area, prescribing appropriate exercises, giving advice on home management, posture and ergonomics and sometimes some heat/ice or electrotherapy if appropriate. Some injuries can be strapped or massaged or dry needled to assist in pain relief and healing. |
What do I need to bring to my first visit?Please bring the following items only if you have them: Any X-Rays, scans or other tests. Your health fund or pension card (if you have one).
If you are a Workers Compensation patient, you need to bring:
If you are a Medicare patient, you need to bring:
If you are a DVA patient, you need to bring:
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Do you accept National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients?
We will gladly see NDIS clients if you are self-managed or plan managed. Unfortunately we are not able to provide services to Agency Funds Managed clients. Please let us know if you have an NDIS plan. |
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How long is each appointment?We understand that each person is different, and as such we allocate extended treatment times of up to 45 minutes for initial visits and 30 minutes for each follow up visit. This means that your Physiotherapist will have adequate time to sit face to face with you and take a thorough clinical history. This forms the basis for a comprehensive and individually tailored treatment program. You will not have to share your time with any other clients, we ensure that we only ever work on one patient at a time.
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Can you treat a few areas in the one treatment?We prefer to start with the worst area, and usually only have time to assess and treat one area. You can book in for an extended treatment for more than one area if necessary. This requires extra time and does cost more. If you are not sure, ask us when you come in for your initial assessment. If the areas of pain are directly related (for example, back pain with referred buttock and leg pain, or neck and shoulder blade with arm pain) these can be treated in the one regular session.
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Can I come for only one or two treatments?Yes. We understand that some people have other financial priorities. If you let your physiotherapist know if you can only come once or twice, we can give you a comprehensive home programme of exercises and self help skills for home treatments.
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Can I use my private health insurance?
Yes, if you have the relevant Extra's cover on your private health insurance you can claim for physiotherapy. We do have HICAPS facilities onsite so all you will need to pay is the "gap" fee which will vary depending upon your health insurance company and level of cover. Please ensure you bring your health fund card with you. We also provide credit card and EFTPOS facilities.
Are you a preferred provider?Boronia Heights Physiotherapy is a private clinic and we accept all health funds. We decide to opt out of being a preferred provider to any one individual fund, to honour all of our clients' health fund choices.
How much will my health fund cover? |
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Different health funds cover different amounts for each session. It is best to check with your own health fund directly to find out how much you are entitled to for each Physiotherapy session prior to your appointment.
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Does Medicare cover physiotherapy?Medicare covers Physiotherapy only when a patient has received a multidisciplinary Allied Health Care Plan from General Practitioner. This Care Plan will allow the patient up to maximum 5 visits per calendar year with a rebate of $56 per consultation.
Do you bulk bill? |
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We don't bulk bill. We accept the Allied Health / Medicare from your GP and charge a gap fee $42.
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Do physiotherapists provide massage?We do not provide remedial or relaxation massage. Muscle work is only a small component of what physiotherapists provide for treatment. We only undertake soft tissue massage if it is deemed appropriate by your physiotherapist upon assessment.
Does it matter if I’m running late? |
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Our Physiotherapists do their best to run on time. We understand sometimes situations can be beyond your control, however if you call us at your earliest convenience we will endeavour to accommodate your appointment at a later time on the same day, provided the availability. Unfortunately if you are running late it will generally mean a decrease in the length of your appointment, otherwise this can have a knock on effect which ends up affecting the remaining clients for that day.
What if I need to cancel my appointment? |
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If you can’t make your appointment, we just ask that you call and cancel your appointment 8 hours before your appointment time. This allows us time to be able to call someone who may be on our waiting list. Otherwise, we may have to issue a ‘no show’ or late cancellation fee. Obviously if you wake up unwell in the morning and your appointment is in less that 8 hours we understand. Please just call the clinic and let us know as soon as you can.
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