Frequently asked Questions

Appointments:

Although we accept walk-ins, it is not always possible that you will be seen immediately. It is strongly recommended that you make an appointment for Physiotherapy. We want to accommodate people as soon as we can, and will strive to get you in within 24-48 hours.

When you contact us to make an appointment, we can also provide you with valuable information about our location, directions, and what to bring with you.

No. A doctor’s referral is not required to see a physical therapist in British Columbia. However we want to work closely with your doctor and will refer you for medical assessment if your condition falls outside our scope of practice or is not responding in a reasonable time.

Mon & Wed: 8am – 3pm

Tues & Thurs: 10am – 5pm

Friday: 8am – 1pm

If you need to cancel an appointment, we ask that you give us 24 hours’ notice.

  • If you are able to provide us with 24 hours’ notice, we do not charge a fee for cancelling or rescheduling your appointment. (There is commonly a wait list for our services and we usually can fill your spot given enough time.)
  • We reserve the right to charge you a No Show fee.

To book, reschedule, or cancel your appointments, please call us at (250) 591-9559. If you have to cancel after hours: Please just leave us a message we will be happy to call you back as soon as possible.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, cash, debit or cheques.

How much does it cost: (our fees have changed) Assessment: $115.00. Subsequent visit: $85.00, Cold laser (1 body area) $50.00 (2-3 body areas) $75.00, ICBC covers the full cost. MSP will cover a portion of the cost as long as you are eligible.

Depending on the source of your funding you may be required to pay at the time of service or you may not be required to pay at all.

You are responsible for submitting receipts to your extended health care provider for reimbursement. See below for specific scenarios.

Am I covered?

Even though this is a common question, there isn’t a single answer. Each plan varies. Some may require a Doctor’s referral or have other specific requirements, so it’s important that you get the details from your provider. Generally it is common for plans to cover $300 – $500 annually.

ICBC covers 100% of the cost of your Physiotherapy for up to 25 visits or 12 weeks from the date of your injury. Treatment extensions can be made if your therapist feels it is needed. However, it has to be pre-approved by your claim manager. Any products, such as lumbar rolls, have to be paid for directly; and then you would need to submit the invoice to your claims manager for reimbursement.

Clients qualifying for MSP Premium Assistance will only be charged a $30 user fee per session. To qualify for Premium Assistance with the Medical Services Plan (MSP) you must make below $22,000 per year; if you are unsure if you qualify you can call MSP at 1-800-663-7100 or we can check for you. Please remember to bring your Care Card to your appointment.

While we are not an authorized WSBC provider, meaning we bill them directly for our services, you are still allowed to be treated at Bridge Physiotherapy. However, it means that you have to pay for your treatment and then submit the bill to WSBC for reimbursement.

Treatment

As primary health care professionals, physiotherapists combine in-depth knowledge of how the body works with specialized hands-on clinical skills to assess, diagnose and treat symptoms of illness, injury or disability.

Your Physiotherapy assessment may include analysis of posture, gait, and balance, joint range of motion, functional movement patterns, muscle strength, as well as neurological function.

Once your assessment is complete your Physiotherapists will review the results with you, review how your body works, and what is keeping it from moving well, and then prescribe a personalized therapeutic exercise program to reduce your pain, restore your mobility, and promote your independence. We will also offer some helpful advice to ease your pain such as appropriate resting positions, or whether to use ice or heat, and for how long.

Depending on your condition, your treatment may also include mobilization, manual therapy, modalities to reduce pain, acupuncture, or corrective orthotics in addition to your home rehabilitation program.

By combining the principles of evidence-informed practice, assessment skills, clinical and professional judgment, your physiotherapist will work closely with you, and often with other health care professionals, to ensure that your health goals are met.

Your initial assessment will take about 60 minutes. Remember to come 10 minutes early to fill out the paper work! Your follow up appointments will typically be 30-45 minutes long, but will depend on how severe or complicated your injury is.

It is important to get your body into a routine, and that is best accomplished by attending treatment two to three times per week. Our goal is to be as efficient as possible so you are back to your full potential as quickly as possible.

Wear something that provides us with easy access to the part of your body that you want help with. Your safest bet is to bring a loose pair of shorts if you are coming in for a problem with your back or legs. Wear a T-shirt or tank-top that shows off the shoulder blade area if you have a problem with your neck or arms.

We are located at 3-100 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC  V9R 5B1.

Currently we offer Physiotherapy, Custom foot orthotics, and cold laser treatments. We are currently looking to add a registered massage therapist to our clinic as soon as possible.