Patient Visit – What to Expect
You will be contacted by telephone by the Rapid Access Clinic (RAC) clerical team when there is appointment availability for you. Typically this is between two weeks and four months onward, depending on the priority of your referral and referral volumes.
During this initial call with the clerical staff you will be provided with an appointment time, location of assessment, and any specific instructions for your visit.
Length of assessment is typically 30 to 60 minutes.
There are four clinic locations in Northwestern Ontario – click here to find the RAC clinic closest to you.
Who Will I See?
- For your hip, knee or shoulder you will be assessed by an advanced practice physiotherapist
- If you are being seen for your spine, you will be assessed by an advanced practice clinician-either chiropractor or physiotherapist.
What Will Happen at the Assessment?
- The clinician will ask you questions about your pain, what treatments you have already had and about your health.
- The clinician will ask you to do movements and do a hands on assessment to better appreciate how you are moving. It is important to provide feedback on how you are feeling or if you are not comfortable. This helps guide the clinician during the assessment.
- Once the active portion of the assessment is complete, your assessor will review your clinical and imaging findings with you. You will have opportunity to ask questions.
- Based on the information gathered, recommendations for non-surgical and if appropriate surgical consultation will be made.
Non-surgical management typically consists of therapies such as physiotherapy, chiropractor, massage therapy, exercises, thermal modalities, over the counter pain management, activity modification, community resources and related topics. Sometimes injections such as corticosteroids are an option for you. If surgical consultation is recommended and this is something you wish to proceed with, you will be provided with opportunity to choose your preferred surgeon and a referral will be directed to them.
What to Bring
- Your Ontario Health Card
- A list from your pharmacy of all the prescription medications that you take
- A list of all herbal, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins you take
- Please wear comfortable shoes and loose fitting comfortable clothes.
- For the health and safety of all patients and staff we strongly advise you to attend your appointment on your own. If you require physical assistance, a translator or have memory issues please limit your support to one additional person.
