It’s not uncommon for Ontario workers to seek physiotherapy treatment after suffering an injury while at work. Many patients are covered under the provincial Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) regulations. However to qualify for the coverage, the accident needs to be reported to your employer and a report filed as soon as possible. Of course, the employer will need to be registered with the WSIB.
At Spectrum Physiotherapy, we are a registered service provider for WSIB claims and will be able to provide you with information on how to access our many healthcare services.
We Work Directly With WSIB
When WSIB has approved the claim, the physiotherapy fees will be handled between our office and WSIB. Please be aware that under the current WSIB rules, patients aren’t allowed to receive both physiotherapy/massage therapy and chiropractic treatments at the same time for the same work-related injury. Since physiotherapy is recognized as a primary health care profession in the province of Ontario, patients don’t need the referral of a physician to receive the necessary treatment.
Some workplace injuries are more serious than others and in this case, the employer is obligated to arrange the necessary transportation to an emergency medical service. Those who have suffered injuries are able to claim for lost wages as well as healthcare costs. In some cases, an employee may be able to work from home, work reduced hours or perform different duties. However, it’s important to be diagnosed by a healthcare professional before agreeing to any of these terms.
How The Process Works
If you have reported a workplace injury to your employer you will also need to fill in a Form 6, which is different than the original incident report that was given to your employer. A Form 6 can be acquired at work or from the WSIB website. Patients then have six months from the time of the report to claim benefits. Some people prefer to visit a doctor or hospital first while others go directly to a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist and physician are also required to complete forms for the WSIB claim.
Patients will receive a WSIB claim number as well as contact information for a WSIB adjudicator who will be looking after the claim. The adjudicator will inform the patient if the claim has been approved or if it’s still under review. At Spectrum Physiotherapy, our team will gladly assist you during the WSIB process and help you with each step to make sure the proper paperwork is filled in. Once your claim is approved we will be able to assess your condition to determine your specific injuries. We can then inform you of the physiotherapy options available for your care and submit the required information to the WSIB.
How Spectrum Physiotherapy Can Help
Our goal is to assist you and make the entire process as simple as can be. It’s also possible for a patient to have the WISB review an old claim if you feel you need treatment for a previous injury. You will need to contact the adjudicator and let them know your condition has changed and further treatment is required. In this case, you may be asked to see a physician for a referral.
As well as providing physiotherapy services, we at Spectrum Physiotherapy may also be able to help modify your existing workstation. This will help the injury from recurring and provide you with a safer and more comfortable area to work in. Our team can provide functional abilities evaluations and ergonomic assessments which will be able to determine which specific duties you’re physically capable of performing at work. At Spectrum Physiotherapy we are accepting referrals now for all WSIB-related conditions such as issues associated with: spine and back pain, upper extremity disorders including shoulder pathology, wrist and elbow issues, lower extremity disorders including hip, knee and ankle pathology.
Here at Spectrum Physiotherapy we will utilize a variety of treatment techniques and protocols to most effectively treat the specific condition and enable you to return to work in a timely manner and at your full capabilities.
