In Canada, the average worker has 7 different employers within a 30-year career.1 Based on that statistic, a physiotherapist will most likely switch from one job to another at least a few times. As a physiotherapist moves on from their current job to another, they may leave clients like you behind who still require ongoing physiotherapy services. So, what happens to you and what responsibilities does your physiotherapist have to their clients in general as they are leaving?
Physiotherapists abide by a Code of Ethical Conduct and Standards of Practice that they must follow as part of being a regulated health professional. When it comes to leaving a practice, physiotherapists have a duty of care to their clients as they are leaving. The physiotherapist must communicate with you about the change and provide information to you about your options. Options could include following the physiotherapist to their next job if it makes sense to do so, or it could be a suggested change to another physiotherapist at the same practice or a different location. The main issue is that the physiotherapist cannot abandon you or your care without any information or instructions on what to do next. This article will assist you in understanding your physiotherapist’s duties to their clients and what you can expect from your physiotherapist if they leave a practice setting.
Active vs. Inactive Clients
Whether a client is actively on a physiotherapist’s caseload or not makes a big difference in what actions a physiotherapist must take as they leave the practice setting. So, let’s start with breaking down how an active client is different from an inactive client.
Whether you have an appointment booked with your physiotherapist in 6 days or 6 weeks you should be considered an active client. This means that your physiotherapist and/or the organization are expected to contact you to let you know that your physiotherapist is leaving. They should also give you some options on what you can do moving forward regarding your care. There is no requirement on the length of notice they must give to you- just that they need to assist you in your transfer of care to another physiotherapist. It is ultimately their responsibility to notify you of any changes. It is not OK for the organization to make changes without your consent to do so. You should not show up to your appointment to find out your physiotherapist has left, and you are getting bumped to someone else.
Even if you have been seeing a physiotherapist off and on for years and have a great therapeutic relationship with your physiotherapist, if there is nothing scheduled, you are not an active client. In this case, the physiotherapist would be unlikely to let you know that they are moving on.
So, what do you do when your physiotherapist leaves?
Moving Forward: Active Client
The physiotherapist themselves or the administrative staff of the practice setting may notify you during a treatment session or may contact you by email or phone to notify you of the upcoming change. It is important to remember that you get to choose your health care providers and should be given enough information to make an informed choice. If you are being notified, they should inform you of the following options that include:
- Following the physiotherapist to their new location.
- Moving your care to another physiotherapist within the practice location.
- Moving your care to a physiotherapist at another location in the community.
Other relevant information that will inform your decision:
- Where the physiotherapist is going.
- Are they moving onto a different area of practice (for example moving from a private practice clinic to work on a stroke rehabilitation team?)
- Any likely interruptions in your care as the physiotherapist moves.
- The skills and services available at the practice location if you were to remain rather than follow the physiotherapist to their new location.
Moving Forward: Inactive Client
If you have been seeing your physiotherapist off and on over the years you might not realize they have gone anywhere until you need them again. Often clients will contact the organization or look online to book a new assessment with their physiotherapist and find out that they no longer work there. If you do contact the organization, you should expect to be told the physiotherapist’s new location and contact information if it’s known. If it is not known, you can check the following information below to locate your physiotherapist if they are still practicing in Alberta.
Finding Your Physiotherapist
You have a few options for finding your previous physiotherapist or finding another to provide you with care.
- Verify a Physiotherapist Page – The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta provides a link on their webpage that will help you find a physiotherapist. You can search for your previous physiotherapist by name or look for a new one practicing near you by searching using your postal code. This webpage will help you ensure your physiotherapist is registered in Alberta and also indicate if they have any current or past conduct issues, conditions on their practice permit and if they perform authorized activities such as acupuncture (use of needles).
- Web Search – Any search engine will be able to help you find a physiotherapist and you can narrow down the search by providing a bit more detail about what you need. You can use a map function to find someone closer to the area where you live or work.
- Rehabilitation Advice Line – If you are looking for advice on your injury or have questions regarding funding for physiotherapy services you can contact the Rehab Advice Line. They can also direct you to sites that have funding for physiotherapy services if you qualify for treatment.
- Friends and Family – Who do your friends and family see? You may find a friend or two that has been to physiotherapy and can recommend someone to see.
Why Don’t Physiotherapists Notify Inactive Clients?
In cases where there was a strong therapeutic relationship, inactive clients may wish to be notified that their physiotherapist is moving from a practice setting and could be upset if they did not receive a notification. In other cases, a patient may be confused or irritated if they receive emails or other notifications that a physiotherapist who treated them once, two years ago, is moving practice settings. It can be difficult for the physiotherapist to know the client’s perspective on this topic.
Notifying inactive clients that a physiotherapist is leaving always comes down to the consent forms the client signed when they were a client and the legislation that physiotherapists must abide by.
Most consent forms are designed for you to consent to the organization’s billing processes and collection and storage of your personal and financial information. Consent forms may or may not include a consent for ongoing communication about general clinic updates or staffing changes. If no consent form was signed for this purpose and you are an inactive client, physiotherapists and organizations could be breaching privacy and anti-spam legislation by sending notifications.
If you are receiving unwanted communications, it is best to contact the physiotherapist or organization sending communications to advise them that you no longer wish to receive correspondence.
Your Client Records
The other important question moving forward is where can you find your physiotherapy records. There can only be one original client record. Sometimes a physiotherapist will retain custody of their client’s records, however, it is more common for the employer or practice setting to retain custody of the record.
You can expect to know where your records are stored, the methods used to protect the records, and how to access them if needed. This information is most often told to you in the privacy statement provided to you at your first appointment.
If the business owner is retaining the records, a departing physiotherapist cannot take a copy of your chart and can only be provided with a copy of the record following a written request by you or someone authorized to act on your behalf.
If you are leaving one location to access physiotherapy elsewhere you can request a copy of your record to be sent to the new practice setting where you will receive physiotherapy services. There may be a fee charged and timelines for providing a copy vary from 30-45 days depending on the specific legislation that relates to you as a client. This should all be discussed with you if you ask about obtaining a copy of your client record.
Hopefully, this article helps guide you if your physiotherapist is leaving a practice. Any concerns should first be directed to the organization or the physiotherapist. If you still have questions, then please contact the Practice Advisor at the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta.
Summary
- If your physiotherapist is moving, you can expect to be provided with information about where they are going and your options for ongoing care.
- You can find a physiotherapist you’ve worked with in the past by searching the College’s website or by contacting their previous practice setting. If you wish to see someone new in your area there are different steps you can take to find a new physiotherapist.
- You have the right to know where and how your private health information is stored as well as how to access it. This should be explained to you when you start seeing a physiotherapist and your information will most often remain with the organization you received services from.
