In an effort to offload our local Emergency Departments and GPs, and provide timely care, Active Living Physio is offering a new clinic as the first point of contact for patients with urgent muscle, bone or joint issues. A scheduled appointment time is required, but no referral is needed. The appointment may be in-person or virtual. Payment is through extended health insurance or private pay.
Our goal is to provide patients with an assessment of their problem, a diagnosis and recommendations for early management. Physiotherapists are trained as ‘direct access practitioners’ meaning we are trained to screen for more serious pathologies and make the appropriate referral. This may mean sending you for an X-ray requisition for your injury, or asking you to speak with a doctor about medical management. We will communicate clearly with any other health care practitioner involved in your care.
If the injury does not require further intervention, we will explain the diagnosis to you, guide you on expected timelines, and recommend strategies for early management. If we recommend further physiotherapy, you can be seen by a member of our Physiotherapy team for subsequent appointments at our Larwood Plaza location.
Our goal is a timely assessment, and early appropriate management for you.
Why are these clinics needed?
One in three adults live with health conditions that affect muscles, bones or joints, and cause pain and mobility issues.
Yet patients with these conditions have waited months for imaging tests or an appointment to see a specialist, often only to discover that they don’t need the tests or surgery. Or they are waiting to get into Physiotherapy. Plus, patients often receive limited support and guidance about their condition – they receive little information on treatment options, or on how to manage their pain. We know that early management of any condition leads to better outcomes.
And once treated, some patients may be prescribed opioids for any chronic pain related to their condition, although other treatment options may be more appropriate. This contributes to our current opioid crisis.
The solution? Acute Injury Assessment Clinics that provide the right treatment, faster.
Knowledge is power.
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