Working with a Physiotherapy Assistant at The Orthopaedic Therapy Clinic
Your Physiotherapist has determined that you will benefit from working with our Physiotherapist Assistant (PTA). Working with a PTA is recommended at the Orthopaedic Therapy Clinic when it is determined that you will benefit from more frequent treatment and/or more regular supervision. This information is provided to help you to understand the parameters and scope of the treatment that can be provided by our assistant.
Who is the Physiotherapy Assistant?
At the Orthopaedic Therapy Clinic our assistants are part of our Therapeutic Fitness team. He/she has been trained to understand the treatments provided by our Registered Physiotherapists. He/she can help you with your exercises and treatment modalities i.e. ultrasound, taping, stretching etc. He/she is able to provide many of the aspects of the program prescribed by your physiotherapist .
How is my PTA visit billed?
Your appointments will be billed as physiotherapy. This can be provided when there are defined therapeutic goals. Your program and progress must be overseen by your physiotherapist or another physiotherapist at the clinic. Your bills will reflect both your physiotherapist and the PTA’s name.
Booking Appointments
At the OTC we require a physiotherapist to be onsite at the clinic during your appointment. The reception staff will help ensure this requirement is met. This allows for a physiotherapist to be consulted if some aspect of your condition or treatment requires immediate review.
Your Physiotherapist remains the primary overseer for all physiotherapy sessions including those provided by the PTA. The Physiotherapist’s responsibility is to:
• create a treatment plan based on your particular needs and goals.
• communicate the treatment plan to the PTA (verbally or through the chart)
• ensure ongoing communication throughout your course of treatment
• provide parameters on frequency and length of appointments
• determine when a review is necessary with your physiotherapist. At the OTC we require a review with the physiotherapist at a minimum of 3 month intervals.
Under the supervision and direction of your Physiotherapist, the PTA will help you progress your treatment program within the parameters outlined by your therapists. This may include:
• Sports and injury taping
• Monitoring clarifying and/or progressing your exercises
• Applying stretching techniques
- Changing treatment beyond your physiotherapy treatment plan, including modalities & exercises
- Assessing the cause of a changed symptom or new symptoms
- Developing non-injury related fitness programs. This service does not qualify as physiotherapy; however, it can be provided by our Therapeutic Fitness team.
- Joint mobilization techniques i.e. manipulation, mobilization
Your initial visit with the PTA will be prescribed by your Physiotherapist. When you are working with both health professionals, it is important to know who to see and when. The following is designed to help you to determine which professional to book with.
- For the initial Assessment
- If you are experiencing new symptoms or if your symptoms have worsened or changed substantially since your last visit
- It has been more than 3 months since you have been evaluated by your Physiotherapist.
- For follow-up treatment, such as ultrasound or taping, or to review your exercises when recommended by your Physiotherapist.
- For on-going treatment or progression of current treatment providing there is no change in symptoms and/or you are progressing as expected based on the physiotherapy assessment.
- If it has been less than 3 months since your last appointment with your physiotherapist