General Information FAQ

Are you wondering what makes the AMS Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Center different? Why people choose us? If you need a referral? We’ve answer some of the most common general questions below.

What to do in case of a work accident?

https://youtu.be/dY7_QgURYhA?si=wBav5rgxApxwK2bl

1. Notify your employer

2. See a doctor

You must see a doctor, even if it is a minor injury. Tell the doctor that your pain is due to an accident at work. Ask the doctor for a medical certificate. You will need it to make a claim to the CNESST. Give a copy of the medical certificate to your employer and send a copy to the CNESST.

3. Complete the Worker’s Claim form

If you are absent from work for more than 14 days, if you have expenses to be reimbursed (parking, orthotics, ..) or if you need treatment such as physiotherapy, complete the Worker’s Claim form. You can download your form here.

4. Follow the treatments prescribed by the doctor

You must make sure that you have all the necessary medical examinations and follow the treatments prescribed by your doctor such as physiotherapy.

5. Who will pay your salary during your accident?

On the day of the accident, your employer pays you 100% of your usual salary. For the first 14 days of absence, your employer pays you 90% of your net salary for the periods you would normally have worked. After that, the CNESST will pay you 90% pf your net salary.  If you miss your appointments without a valid reason, the CNESST may deduct this day from your salary.

What to do in case of a traffic accident?

1. Call the SAAQ at 1-800-361-7620 to report your accident and request the SAAQ claim form. They will give you a claim number and mail you the claim form. You can also go online to declare your accident and fill out the form at https://saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/accident-route

2. See a doctor and follow the treatments prescribed by the doctor such as physiotherapy. The SAAQ will pay for your physio treatments.

3. The SAAQ will generally pay 90% of your salary from the 8th day of disability, the first 7 days are not paid. Visit https://saaq.gouv.qc.ca/ for more information.

Do I Need A Referral To Go To The AMS Rehabilitation Clinic?

No. You don’t need a referral to come to the clinic. Some insurance providers however do require a physician’s referral.  So it’s a good idea to ask for one, if you are seeing your own doctor, or a doctor in a hospital or clinic where they do not have our physical therapy/physiotherapy resources.

A referral can be made directly to AMS and one of our doctors can follow up your injury or if your referring doctor wants to follow you up, we can offer the physical rehabilitation services you need such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, massage, acupuncture, etc.

Why Choose AMS As Your Rehabilitation Provider?

By choosing AMS as your rehabilitation provider you get quick access to a full team of recovery and rehabilitation treatment providers. You also get rapid access to a medical appointment and follow up. We also help you with your insurance claims; insurance documents will be taken care of by our experienced staff.  And finally, you get personalized care. AMS rehabilitation services are tailored to each individual’s needs so the badly sprained ankle can benefit as much as the multiple injury car accident victim.

What Types of Interventions And Therapy Do AMS Clinicians Do?

The interventions you receive will depend on what the therapist finds in the examination/evaluation. Our intervention programs include coordination among all people involved in your care (other health care professionals, family, friends, caregivers, and others), communication to ensure a good exchange of information, thorough documentation of the care and services provided, and instruction to you and others involved in your care to promote and optimize our services. Most physiotherapy plans of care will include three categories of interventions: manual therapy component (McKenzie Method, Mulligan Concept), exercise/ mobility / flexibility and balance component, and third- functional training including patient education. Other interventions might include manual therapy techniques; use of equipment such as lumbar traction, supports, orthotics, protection techniques; electrotherapeutic modalities; and mechanical modalities.

Do The Treatments Hurt?

Generally, no.

Most treatments are either painless, or there is only a little discomfort or soreness (during massage etc.). You may be a little sore after therapy as well, or sometimes the next day.  But if at any time you feel significant pain or a dramatic change, immediately let your therapist know.

How Long Is A Course Of Therapy?

It depends upon the diagnosis, the severity of your injury and how dedicated you are to doing your part outside of treatments. Our goal is to not only get rid of your pain but to get you to the point where the likelihood of the pain coming back is significantly reduced.

How Is My Recovery Progress Measured?

Because your physiotherapist will perform a meticulous examination/evaluation, quantifying and qualifying all the deficits and problems you are presenting with, re-examination to determine progress is possible. You will be reexamined based on your diagnosis as well as on the chronicity of the problem.

Additionally, the physiotherapist always needs to be aware of follow-up visits with your physician, if you were referred by one, as a reexamination may be performed so that the physician can be updated at that time. Re-evaluation/progress notes are performed on all patients every 2-4 weeks, with those reports sent directly to the patient’s doctors to keep them updated on progress, and any issues.

What Happens If My Symptoms Increase?

If you have increased symptoms please call your physiotherapist. When you call the office, please be sure you explain to the office staff that you are having an increase in symptoms. The office staff will pull your chart and contact your physiotherapist or a covering physiotherapist. We will be able to review the information and will give you a call back that same day. After we discuss the case with you, we will be able to give you guidelines as to what would be appropriate to reduce your symptoms, whether you need to come in our office, or if you should contact or follow up with your physician if you were referred by one. It is best to call us prior to calling your physician as if a change in symptoms has occurred, it is important that we fax the physician a report so that he or she can be up-to-date on your care when you see her for a follow-up visit.

Will I Need Follow-Up After My Treatments Are Over?

We offer post-rehab free consultations for all our patients six months after their completed episode of care. This helps to avoid any problems that may arise from getting worse, and also allows us to help the patient be more independent in their condition.

What If I Have a Recurrence?

If you have a recurrent problem after your completed episode of care, how/if you will return to physiotherapy will depend on a number of factors. It would depend if it was a re-injury of the same specific problem, how long it has been since you were last in physiotherapy, how long it’s been since you saw the physician (if a physician referred you), and many other factors. In general, if you are discharged from physiotherapy and feel the need to return, you should contact the physiotherapist who treated you. He or she will review your chart and call back to discuss with you what should be done, depending on the problem you are having.

Can I Ask My Doctor About Physiotherapy?

Absolutely. If you have a problem that you think can be helped with physiotherapy, feel free to give us a call and book a free consultation. After discussing with you the specific problem you present with, we can give you a better idea if it is something that is manageable with physiotherapy. You can also give your doctor a call. If he or she is not sure, he or she is welcome to contact us as well. Remember, you do not need a doctor’s prescription to see your physiotherapist.  You can simply book your appointment and we will send a progress report back to your doctor.

Why Should You Refer Your Patients To AMS? (for physicians)

By referring your patient you are ensuring your patient is quickly seen and assessed within 24 to 48 hours.

We offer you, the patient’s treating physician the option of continuing the medical follow-up or transferring the care to one of our dedicated rehab physicians who will guarantee regular follow-up. With either choice your patient can benefit from AMS’s rehab services. If you desire, we will keep you updated regularly on your patient’s progress. We will complete all the necessary paperwork some physicians find to be a burden. Potentially, your patient will be seen by members of a specialized multidisciplinary rehabilitation team including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists and psychologists if necessary.