Physiotherapy FAQs
What should I expect from my Physiotherapy appointment?
Physiotherapy is a therapeutic health profession that assists people with injuries, pain, stiffness, weakness, and other movement problems. Physiotherapists are highly qualified in injury diagnosis, injury treatment, exercise prescription, injury prevention, surgical and general rehabilitation, as well as many other areas of sport and musculoskeletal health and fitness. Your first consultation will involve thorough assessment, rehabilitation planning, and the implementation of selected treatment techniques.
Is my appointment private?
Physiotherapy appointments at Sycamore Health are conducted in private 1-on-1 rooms. We can also lock the doors at your request for any appointment type, althought the doors are typically locked for our pelvic floor appointments where digital rectal examination and realtime ultrasound might be used.
Our consultations do not involve any heat/ice or machine-assisted 'treatment', and there are no physiotherapy assistants or reception staff unnecessarily entering the treatment room; your appointment is with the treating practitioner the whole time.
What should I wear?
Please wear something loose fitting so we can move your body through it’s complete range of motion, unimpeded by your choice of clothing. It may also be necessary to undress certain clothing items for treatment, with your consent. Generally, please refrain from wearing a dress or jeans, instead opting for shirt and shorts. Sometimes we need to assess and treat your neck or back for problems in your fingers or toes, so these clothing choices are quite important.
How long should I expect my appointments to be?
Standard musculoskeletal appointments are about 30 minutes depending on your condition and needs. Pelvic floor appointments are typically 1 hour in duration. We advise all patients to arrive at least 10 minutes early to their initial appointments to complete the appropriate paperwork and to avoid any delays which may cause reductions in your appointment duration. Subsequent appointments are between 20-30minutes unless otherwise advised.
Do I need to visit my doctor before seeing a physiotherapist?
No. Physiotherapists are able to treat patients as a first point of contact relating to any injury. This is considered a standard “private” consultation and you can claim through your private health fund on the spot from the first visit. To make sure you’re getting the most out of your private health fund, click here.
However, based on how you plan to fund the session, a visit to your doctor may be necessary. For example, a doctor’s certificate is required for:
- Workers compensation claims
- Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA)
- CTP and Third Party Insurance claims
- Medicare-rebated chronic illness enhanced primary care (EPC) plans
Do you accept veterans under Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA)?
Yes. Please visit your doctor first to acquire an allied health referral form (D904) and ask for the referral to be made out to “Sycamore Health” for physiotherapy. You need a valid gold card or white card with your condition covered that you plan on having treated.
Do you accept worker's compensation claims (Workcover)?
Yes. Please ensure your claim application has begun and you have a claim number. If your claim is not yet approved you can still seek treatment, but you may be liable for the costs of your treatment if your claim is later rejected by work cover. Please also ensure you have visited your GP and have a valid work cover certificate stating “allied health” or “physiotherapy” as a part of the treatment plan. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to your appointment as these types of appointments have more paperwork involved prior to your session.
Do you accept compulsory third party and insurance claims?
Yes. Please ensure you have visited your GP first and have a valid and approved claim number with your particular insurer or solicitor. You may be liable for the costs of treatment if your claim is later rejected. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to your appointment as these types of appointments have more paperwork involved prior to your session.
How do I book my appointment?
Easy! You can choose to book online here. It’s simple and even if you’re a returning patient, your file should sync up with your personal contact details whilst making the appointment. If you’d prefer to phone us, you can do so on (07) 2102 7588. Our telephone staffed hours are 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday – Thursday, and 8am-5pm Friday. You can also contact us via Facebook.
What is your cancellation policy?
Generally, late cancellations (less than 24hrs) and no-show’s attract the full appointment fee as a charge directly to you. This in includes if your appointment(s) would normally be covered by third parties (such as Medicare, DVA, Workcover QLD, CTP, etc.). Recurrence may result in a decision to not reschedule any future appointment. We don’t charge for cancellations for unavoidable circumstances; we know that everyone has “stuff” in life.
Please remember that any appointment slot that is taken and not used, means another patient cannot be seen at that time. We do implore you to call ahead if you know you can’t make your appointment. Patients receiving treatment under third party funding may also be subject to that funding body’s cancellation policies.