Appointments

What to Expect
APPOINTMENTS:

Your first appointment will take 40 minutes. This is a really important time for us to form an accurate diagnosis of your injury. We ask you a number of questions about your injury and general health and discuss with you your goals of treatment. Then we do some physical tests. Your Physiotherapist will then discuss their findings with you and outline a plan of treatment. They will normally implement a short treatment at this first session in order to validate their diagnosis and provide self management advice.
 

Subsequent visits will normally take 20 minutes. Your Physiotherapist will ask you how you are progressing, reassess important tests, analyse if the treatment has been effective and then either implement a similar treatment or alter the treatment plan if no improvement has been seen.

 

  • If your problem is complex your Physiotherapist may request you to make a 40 minute follow-up appointment
  • If we think that your problem may not be of musculoskeletal origin or if you may require other medical intervention we will immediately refer you onto your GP.
  • If you require time off work and/or medication you will also need to see your GP.

ACC:

  • If you have seen your Doctor before being referred for Physiotherapy then your Doctor will have made the decision whether or not your treatment will be covered by ACC.
  • If your have come to us directly & your injury is the result of an accident, you will then be asked to complete the ACC details on the reverse of our consent form.
  • Please note ACC's definition of an accident is "a specific event, or series of events, that - i) Involves the application of a force or resistance external to the human body; and ii) Is not a gradual process".
  • We are legally obligated to follow these guidelines. If unsure, please discuss this with your Physiotherapist
  • Visitors to New Zealand: All visitors to New Zealand are covered by ACC, if you have an accident during your stay that causes an injury
  • Please be aware that lodging an ACC claim does not guarantee acceptance of the claim. The ultimate decision is made by ACC. Declined claims will incur private charges.

COMMUNITY SERVICES CARDS:

Although we do not receive any Government funding towards treatment of Community Services card holders, we do not want our service to be inaccessible to those under financial hardship. We therefore can offer a $20 discount per appointment for those who hold a valid Communty Services card. Please inquire about this discount with the receptionist when booking your first appointment. 

TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS:

If you are unable to attend for an appointment in person for any reason, we can assess your injury via Telehealth and lodge an ACC claim if approprite. If you injury is accepted by ACC then these consultations would be at no charge to you. Although any “hands-on” treatment is obviously not possible via phone or video link, we can still be very effective in managing your injury. This includes the following services:

  • Lodging an ACC claim if appropriate
  • Formulating and progressing your self-management plan
  • Discussing expectations of recovery times
  • Designing and demonstrating rehabilitation exercises
  • Reinforcing exercises via emailed pictures and videos from Physiotec
  • Referring you for x-rays and /or an ultrasound scan if urgent
  • Referring you onto an Orthopaedic Specialist.
  • Advising you of aids & equipment that could promote a faster recovery