HAND CLINIC

We offer 1-on-1 extended assessment and treatment sessions. Our patient-centered approach focuses on you and aims at finding the root to your problem and giving you the knowledge and tools to be in control of your recovery.

Your first appointment should last around 30 to 60 minutes. Initial paperwork will be emailed to you a few days before your appointment. We encourage you to fill it out at home but you will have the option to do it once you arrive to the clinic. Your therapist will ask you questions about the history of your injury and will complete an exhaustive assessment to gather information and diagnose your injury. Our therapists believe that a key part to your recovery lies in education and will take time to explain what is going on and what is causing your injury. You will then discuss treatment goals and strategies with your therapist. The first treatment is included in your assessment.

Please bring your Alberta Health Care card as well as your extended health benefit plan information, if you wish to direct bill for your visit. If you have a prescription from your doctor for physiotherapy or occupational therapy, please bring it to your first appointment. For physiotherapy, bring comfortable clothing that will allow your therapist to access the body part we are treating (shorts for lower body injury, t-shirt or tank top for upper body injury). For hand therapy, please wear short sleeves or long sleeves that can be easily rolled up to the elbow. Always bring clean indoor shoes as you will be asked to remove your outdoor footwear upon arrival. If you have had surgery, please bring any information provided by your surgeon regarding your injury and the procedure that was done. If possible, bring your surgeon’s contact information in case your therapist needs further information from them.

Our CHTs fabricate custom fitted orthoses on site and they are usually finished within one appointment. The orthoses are, for the most part, made from low temperature thermoplastic as well as other materials when needed. Our fees are competitive to off-the-shelf braces but offer more support and comfort since they are one of a kind and made specifically for you. Prices range from $20.00 to $75.00 depending on the type of orthosis needed. Your therapist will present you with options and you will be made aware of any charge prior to any orthoses being fabricated.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) only contracts a few clinics to provide AHS funded therapy in the community. Sadly, since our clinic’s opening, no new contracts have been issued. This means that our services are not covered through Alberta Health Services at this time. We frequently monitor for updates from AHS and do everything we can to advocate for the need for more community contracts.

Most extended health care benefit plan do cover physiotherapy services. Occupational therapy coverage is less common and does require a doctor prescription. Custom orthoses are covered by some benefit providers and may also require a doctor prescription. In both cases, we recommended that you contact your benefit provider to verify your eligibility and whether your need a doctor referral.

Yes we do. We offer direct billing to most private insurance and extended health care benefit plans. We encourage you to contact your benefit provider to determine how much coverage you have.

You must report your injury to your employer and to the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) as soon as possible. You can complete the Worker’s Report of Injury online at www.wcb.ab.ca. Your employer must also report the incident to WCB. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible to assess your injury, start treatment and get you back to what matters. Your therapist will submit a report to WCB within 48 hours of your first visit. If your claim is accepted, charges will be covered by WCB. However, if your claim is denied, you will be responsible for the assessment and/or treatment fees.

First, contact your motor vehicle insurance company to open a claim. Your insurance company is responsible for the coverage related to your injury as well as any passengers in your vehicle, even if you are not at fault. You will then need to fill out an AB-1 form and send it to your insurance company within 10 days of your accident. Book an appointment to see one of our therapists to diagnose your injury and establish a treatment plan. We also recommend that you see your family doctor to further document your injury. Most MVA related injuries qualify for 10 to 21 treatment sessions and can be direct billed. Your therapist will provide you with all the information you need regarding your claim and the therapy process.