How to Prepare for your Appointment at Arthritis and Injury Care

As with just about everything, from a big sporting event to a job interview to what meals you are going to eat this week, preparation is a very helpful tool in accomplishing your goals. As mindless as it sounds, being prepared for your medical appointments is just as important to get the most out of your consultation. Because we know these appointments can be overwhelming at times, we have come up with a list of ways to prepare for your appointment, with helpful tips from the administrators, pedorthists, and bracing specialists at Arthritis and Injury Care Center.

1. Arrive 10 minutes early to your appointment to fill out the necessary paperwork. For most of our specialists, this includes an intake form to get information about you and your injury/needs.
2. Bring your prescription. While a prescription is not necessary for most of our services, it is highly recommended to help our specialists determine what you are looking for. With a diagnosis or prescription from your physician or other health care professional, our specialists can use their expertise to provide you with the best product for your needs. Furthermore, as per our provincial government, when purchasing a medical product with a prescription, we are not required to apply taxes to the product. Most private health insurance plans also require a prescription to be reimbursed.
3. Bring your private health insurance information. As a service to our clients, we offer to contact his or her private health insurance company on their behalf to determine coverage and reimbursement details. In some cases, a quote or predetermination is required to obtain the details of the coverage, which we are happy to send. As well, when allowed by the insurance company and policy, we can direct bill for services and products.
4. Prior to your appointment, try to recognize your symptoms, when they are worse, and if there is anything that alleviates them. Some of the common questions we ask are:
   1. Do you feel pain, instability, stiffness, tingling, weakness, etc. Can you pinpoint your pain or is it more general?
   2. Are your symptoms worse in the morning, the afternoon or at night?
   3. Are your symptoms sporadic or constant? What makes them worse?
   4. Is there anything that helps alleviate your symptoms?
5. If you have any imaging results, such as X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound, it can help us determine what is going on in the joint, most specifically for a knee bracing consultation. Because there are a variety of different knee braces for a range of conditions, knowing what the affected part of the joint is can be very beneficial in ensuring you are getting the best brace.
6. Bring past braces or orthotics. If you have had a brace or pair of orthotics in the past, you can bring them with you to help us better understand what you are looking for. This can also help us to know what works and what does not work for you, as well as what you prefer to make the best recommendation for you.
7. Bring sports equipment or shoes. If you know you are going to be wearing your brace for a specific sport, it can be helpful for you to bring your sports equipment in. For example, when fitting a skier with a knee brace, it is important to make sure the bottom of the brace is not going to hit the top of the ski boot. I often encourage patients to bring in their ski boot to make sure it is going to fit comfortably. Shoes are also important, especially for an orthotics fitting. They can help determine gait patterns based on the wear on the bottom of the shoe, as well as determining the best type of orthotic for the shoe you are most often going to be wearing it in.
8. Lastly, be prepared for a possible Like previously mentioned, we offer to call your private insurance company to determine coverage for our products and services. Where direct billing is allowed, we will direct bill, but there may still be a co-payment or deductible. There are also plans that do not allow for direct billing, in which case, products must be paid for upfront before submitting for reimbursement. As well, it is important to note that there is a $50 assessment fee for orthotics appointments only, which will be added to the cost of the orthotics.

Do you have any questions?

No Problem! At the Arthritis and Injury Care Centre, we strive to help patients on their journey to wellness and provide them with the education and support they need. If you or a loved one would like more information about any of our services, please contact us.