Physiotherapy Program

Our Physiotherapy Program connects eligible, referred patients with one-on-one physiotherapist appointments, the GLA:D Back program, the GLA:D Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis program, an exercise-based rehabilitation plan, or AHS or community-based resources.

Eligibility and referrals

All members can refer their eligible patients to our Physiotherapy Program. Eligible patients are those without coverage by other health payers, financial means, or access to AHS-funded services and one of the following:

• Aged 18 and up with recurrent/persistent chronic low back pain
• Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain
• Joint-related degenerative hip and/or knee pain due to osteoarthritis (OA)

For quick reference, the program’s full inclusion-exclusion criteria are on the referral form. The eligible shoulder, hip, and knee conditions were determined by physician feedback and program capacity. (Please review this FAQ document for more details on the program’s development.)

Please ensure you are only referring eligible, motivated patients who would benefit from our limited resources for physiotherapy (focused on improving quality of life and leading to a virtuous cycle of improvement of other health conditions).

To refer: Please complete the CWC PCN Physiotherapy Program Referral Form in your EMR (or download the form to print and fax), fax it to our program, and explain the next steps to your patient. (The referral form has a link to a patient handout: bit.ly/physio-handout.)

For ineligible patients, we have compiled a concise summary of alternative services.

Download the referral form

Program details

Most eligible patients referred to the program are booked an appointment with one of our Physiotherapists (30-minute virtual appointment or call) who will use their expertise to assess and determine the appropriate type of care.

For patients with chronic low back pain, our Physiotherapists review referral and Netcare information, and as appropriate, make a referral to the GLA:D Back program where they are assessed in person.

Patients then continue onto the appropriate type of care:

• Physiotherapy Program: In-person, one-on-one physiotherapy appointments (up to six appointments, including a one-hour initial assessment appointment; follow-up appointments are 30 minutes and based on the plan of care developed with the patient in the first appointment)
• Physiotherapy Program: In-person GLA:D Back program (two education sessions on pain neuroscience and biopsychosocial concepts and 12 group exercise sessions emphasizing movement quality and strengthening and functional activities over seven weeks)
• Physiotherapy Program: In-person GLA:D Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis program (two education sessions about OA and self-management and 12 group exercise sessions over seven weeks to build strength through functional exercises and learn to apply the exercises to everyday activities)
• Physiotherapy Program: Exercise-based rehabilitation plan developed by our Physiotherapists with the patient for self-management (our Physiotherapists will then follow up with the patient virtually)
• External services: Referral to an AHS or community-based program (e.g., Alberta Healthy Living Program, etc.) — please follow up with your patients referred outside of our Physiotherapy Program

The contracted service providers for the one-on-one appointments and GLA:D program offer numerous locations for patient accessibility.

Program monitoring and evaluation will be ongoing along with evaluation of contracted service providers for quality assurance.

Faxed updates back to referring members:

• Notification of the outcome of the initial call or referral review (connected with one-on-one physiotherapy appointments, GLA:D Back program, GLA:D Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis program, self-management, or an AHS or community-based program) or if the patient could not be contacted or declined
• Plan of care after the assessment appointment with a contracted provider for patients who are connected to one-on-one physiotherapy appointments
• Discharge summary after the completion of the one-on-one physiotherapy appointments or GLA:D programs
• Summary of patient activity and progress made within the self-management option

Review the step-by-step patient journey and communication to referring physician process flow map.

Reminder: Please follow up with your patients referred outside of our Physiotherapy Program.

Open the patient journey flow map

Locations and hours

All locations are displayed on this map to offer an at-a-glance overview.

For one-on-one physiotherapy appointments, Peak Health & Performance is the contracted service provider with four locations:

• 5004 Elbow Dr. S.W.
• 105-3519 14th St. S.W.
• 208-7337 Macleod Tr. S.W.
• 159-2515 90th Ave. S.W.

Hours of operation are 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday – Thursday; 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday; and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday.

For the GLA:D programs, Momentum Health is the contracted service provider with seven locations:

• 4-12192 Symons Valley Rd. N.W.
• 1c-7005 18th St. S.E.
• 2200-8561 8A Ave. S.W.
• 5146-901 64th Ave. N.E.
• 312-3320 17th Ave. S.W.
• 129-3815 Front St. S.E.
• 110-7 Mahogany Plz. S.E.

Their hours vary slightly by location but are generally 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday.