Frequently Asked Questions

• Whether you live in Windsor or Wawa, in-person healthcare visits can take up anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day. It’s not always easy to get that time off from your business, your shift, or your children. Virtual consultations, however, can be done from the convenience of your own home, or even a private space at work, potentially saving you time and money.

• For more rural and northern communities, a one hour in-person assessment can mean a long distance drive, or even a flight. Again, virtual consultations can dramatically improve access to needed care.

• It seems like it’s always cold or flu season. And safe, comfortable access to healthcare services can be challenging for many people such as those who are immunocompromised, or who may have other health concerns for themselves or a loved one. A virtual consultation can reduce a variety of risks associated with in-person care, with the potential to improve access, comfort, and outcomes.

• Most major extended healthcare companies offer coverage for chiropractic care, including virtual assessments, either directly or through a healthcare spending account. Please check with your extended health carrier to see your specific coverage.

• We do not offer direct billing. However, you will be provided a receipt upon payment which will have all the information your carrier may require for processing

• Unfortunately virtual chiropractic assessments are not covered through OHIP

Yes.

Yes, we really can.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst in advancing the healthcare system's ability to offer virtual care. And since the spring of 2020 we were quickly, and pleasantly surprised at how well we can do this online.

Much of a diagnosis comes from the history - talking with the patient, asking questions, knowing what's normal compared to what's more concerning. And the physical examination - which can easily be described and directed - often just confirms what we're already thinking from the history.

Occasionally when there's a situation that might need a more hands on/in-person approach, that can be communicated with the recommendation for next steps and to seek appropriate in-person care.

I’m really happy that we have a robust public healthcare system in Canada. However, one of the challenges that both patients and providers alike note is it can often feel like we’re short on time when it comes to visits and explanations. And it’s not that providers don’t want to spend more time - they often just don’t have the time available.

I mentioned it in my bio, and it’s worth repeating… some of the most common things I hear from patients are:

• “No one has taken the time to explain things to me this well”
• “I feel like I’m being heard”
• “I feel like I have some hope again”

Time is a valuable aspect of a consultation. And in my consultations I like to set the stage so that you can feel comfortable in asking as many questions as needed without feeling like we’re going to run short on time. I want you to feel heard. I want you to leave our session feeling confident in your understanding of what the next best steps are, and why. Because when things make sense to you, your comfort and confidence in the process improve, and your outcomes can improve.

This is something that I was taught in school. But it’s only with the experience that’s come with time, and interacting with thousands of patients that I’ve been able to appreciate how important a space for good communication is for good healthcare delivery.

So yes, an online consult really can be helpful for back pain.

I don't like feeling rushed. And I'm betting you don't either.

A common sentiment patients have in our healthcare system is that they can feel rushed for time, and that they either don’t get to say everything they’d like to, or there isn’t enough time to take in all the information and ask follow-up questions.

Many healthcare providers can also feel short on time, myself included. 

So if you don’t like feeling rushed, and I don’t like feeling rushed, let’s book enough time to feel relaxed.

Grab your coffee or tea, settle in, let’s figure things out together.

Low back, and low back related leg pain are the conditions my practice is centred around. This may include:

• Low back pain
• Sciatica
• Radiculopathy
• Disc bulges and disc herniations
• Arthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis

While my training as a chiropractor spans a variety of muscle-bone-joint conditions, my focus with this clinic is in low back pain, and low back related leg pain (see above).

That being said, bodies can often have more than one thing happening at the same time. If the overlapping conditions are appropriate to manage in tandem, and straight forward enough to do so in a virtual setting, then we may incorporate them. If not, then I can recommend other paths forward for assessment and treatment.

While there is no hands-on therapy offered through a virtual or phone consultation, there is still treatment in the form of education, recommendations, and directions on next steps.

Through my career I’ve learned that slowing things down and taking the time to help people understand their pain is every bit as important as the hands-on therapies that can be applied.

As the saying goes, knowledge is power.

Please note: I won't be making direct referrals for imaging, injections, or surgical consultations. However, I will provide a copy of the assessment and a report of findings for you to present to your primary care provider as recommendations for potential next steps.

Yes, I do - The Far Side, by Gary Larson. Ever since I was kid I’ve loved the quirky, bizarre, and fantastical nature of this comic. I have several Far Side anthologies at home.

Contrary to this common saying, no, laughter is not the best medicine. Antibiotics are far better.

Currently I’m offering limited evening and weekend hours, by appointment only.

Please reach out from my contact page and I'll do my best to accommodate.

Having a spouse/partner/friend sitting in on your session can be very helpful. So yes, they are more than welcome to join you.

• For one, it’s nice that you won’t have to try to remember everything we go through and then try to relay it to them afterwards.
• And having your partner there can help them to understand better what you’re dealing with, and ways that they can best support you.
• (Also, even though the session is for you, they might even pick up some tips on how to manage their own back pain. What a deal, right?)

Once you’ve booked your appointment you’ll get an email detailing everything you need to do so that you’re prepared for the consultation. It’s really not all that much. But a few considerations are:

• Have a private space where you feel comfortable and have room to stand, sit, lie down, move
• Picture i.d. available
• If it’s a video consultation please have space that you’re able to back away from the camera so that you show up on the screen from head to toe
• Wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move around in
• A coffee/tea/water if you feel like it. I might have one, too
• A list of questions you’re hoping to have answered