At Bowmanville Valley Massage we endeavor to accommodate as many of our clients as possible by offering a wide variety of appointment days and times.
As of September 1, 2012 we will be open six days a week and will continue to offer early morning, evening and some Saturday appointments.
While many of our clients book their appointments in advance, we are often able to accommodate last minute requests as well. There are a few things you can do to help you snag those last minute spots.
1) "Like" us on Facebook. We post our last minutes openings and cancellations on our Facebook page. Our fans get to see a list of what is still open for that week, and cancellations are posted as they come in. Click here: https://www.facebook.com/BowmanvilleValleyMassageTherapy
2) Call early in the day. We don't always have same day appointments available, but when we do, they tend to get booked early in the day. If you think you might want to come in for a same day appointment, call (or text or email) us right away. We do recieve several calls a day looking for same day openings. When we do have them, they tend to go to the first couple of callers.
3) Get on the wait list. If the day you want happens to be booked up, your therapist can put you on a wait list. If a last minute cancellation comes in, you will get a call right away. This does happen quite often (especially Fridays and Saturdays when the weather is nice!).
4) Consider morning appointments. Evenings and weekends are the most in demand time slots at Bowmanville Valley Massage. There is a fairly large demographic of clients who can only book their massage therapy session after work, or on Saturday. Becuase of this, it is often easier to get a last minute morning appointment.
5) Consider setting up a maintenance care plan. Many of our clients use massage therapy for maintenance care and prevention. We have some clients that book their favorite times weeks or months in advance, to ensure they keep their preferred spot. This is particularly helpful if you need appointments prior to 10am, after 4pm or on Saturdays.You can speak with your therapist for more details and a recommendation.
6) Leave a message. If we are at the clinic, but busy with a client, we will let the phone go directly to voice mail. As soon as we have finished with that client, we check and return all messages. Calls made during the day are always returned the same business day unless we are away. If you don't get us the first time, leave a message with your name, number and appointment request and someone will call you back in a timely manner. Email and text messaging is a great way to get a hold of us as well!
7) Ask for a referral. If you need in for a treatment right away and we cannot accommodate the request, we can refer you to other local RMTs that we know and trust. Even if you can't get in to see us, we still want to get the treatment you need.
Thursday 16 August 2012
Monday 13 August 2012
Ice or Heat?
One of the most common questions I get when it comes to orthopedic injuries is if they should be treated with an ice pack or a hot pack.
Both hot and cold therapies are used in treating injures, but there are certain circumstances where using one is more beneficial than the other.
When to use cold: Cold therapy is used when an injury is acute. Acute usually refers to the first 2-3 days after the injury (ex. strains, sprains, contusions, fractures etc) when the area is inflamed, painful and possibly red or hot to the touch.
When an injury is in the early stages (or has been re-aggravated) cold therapy is recommended. 10-15 minutes with an ice pack will help with inflammation and to decrease pain sensation. Icing can be repeated as needed, simply take breaks to allow the skin to return to normal temperature before resuming.
Never apply the ice directly to the skin. Use a thin layer of material to protect from ice burns. Combining ice with rest, compression and elevation (good old R.I.C.E.!) is your best bet immediately after an injury.
When to use heat: Heat therapy is used when an injury is chronic. This is the phase where healing is well underway and the swelling associated with the acute phase is gone. Heat will relax and soothe sore muscles and increase local circulation and mobility which will promote healing.
Heat the area for around 20 minutes as needed. This can be done in the shower or bath or with a heating pad. Be cautious when using electric heating pads in bed. They can and will burn skin if left on too long after you fall asleep. Placing a towel between the pad and the skin with also help to reduce the risk of burns.
People with certain cardiovascular or neurological impairments that cause decreased sensation should also take caution with both hot and cold therapies.When in doubt, discuss the use of hydrotherapy with your health care practitioner before commencing self treatment.
For most people, the use of heat is much more relaxing and desirable, just remember that if the injury is new and/or swollen, you could be doing more harm than good.
At the clinic we have access to both cold and hot therapies if necessary and your therapist will instruct you as to which would be best to use at home after your session!
Both hot and cold therapies are used in treating injures, but there are certain circumstances where using one is more beneficial than the other.
When to use cold: Cold therapy is used when an injury is acute. Acute usually refers to the first 2-3 days after the injury (ex. strains, sprains, contusions, fractures etc) when the area is inflamed, painful and possibly red or hot to the touch.
When an injury is in the early stages (or has been re-aggravated) cold therapy is recommended. 10-15 minutes with an ice pack will help with inflammation and to decrease pain sensation. Icing can be repeated as needed, simply take breaks to allow the skin to return to normal temperature before resuming.
Never apply the ice directly to the skin. Use a thin layer of material to protect from ice burns. Combining ice with rest, compression and elevation (good old R.I.C.E.!) is your best bet immediately after an injury.
When to use heat: Heat therapy is used when an injury is chronic. This is the phase where healing is well underway and the swelling associated with the acute phase is gone. Heat will relax and soothe sore muscles and increase local circulation and mobility which will promote healing.
Heat the area for around 20 minutes as needed. This can be done in the shower or bath or with a heating pad. Be cautious when using electric heating pads in bed. They can and will burn skin if left on too long after you fall asleep. Placing a towel between the pad and the skin with also help to reduce the risk of burns.
People with certain cardiovascular or neurological impairments that cause decreased sensation should also take caution with both hot and cold therapies.When in doubt, discuss the use of hydrotherapy with your health care practitioner before commencing self treatment.
For most people, the use of heat is much more relaxing and desirable, just remember that if the injury is new and/or swollen, you could be doing more harm than good.
At the clinic we have access to both cold and hot therapies if necessary and your therapist will instruct you as to which would be best to use at home after your session!
Tuesday 7 August 2012
Protecting Your Privacy
Here is a topic that has come up a few times in the past week or so - patient confidentiality.
Most people know that when you go in to visit your family doctor, what you talk about and what gets written in your file is on lock down. Not even your husband or wife could call the office and find out health information about you without the clinic obtaining your written consent to do so.
What most people don't know is that the same laws that prohibit your family doctor from sharing your medical conditions, prescriptions and appointment details with anyone but you, also apply to Registered Massage Therapists.
All Regulated Health Professionals (including, but not limited to, Medical Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors etc. For a complete list visit http://www.regulatedhealthprofessions.on.ca/WHOWEARE/default.asp and view the list along the right side of the screen) are bound by what we call PHIPA.
PHIPA stands for Personal Health Information Protection Act. If you consider yourself to be a bit of a legal eagle (or you just want to be eased into a nice long nap) you can view the Act in it's entirety here: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_04p03_e.htm
If neither of the above apply to you I'll give you a quick run down. As a Regulated Health Professional my commitment to my clients is that anything we discuss will remain between us. The information in your file, on your account on my computer, emails between us, or any other identifying information about you or your treatment is strictly confidential. I can't share it with my family or yours, or your boss, or your insurance company, not even another health care professional you are seeing.
If however, a situation arises where you need to me release certain information, that can be done with a simple consent form. I sign, you sign. It's a fairly straight forward process.
PHIPA also ensures that your information is kept under lock and key. We are required to keep all health records for a minimum of ten years after the last appointment. After that, records can be destroyed by shredding.
So, to summarize, if your friend calls and asks if I'm your Massage Therapist, no, I cannot tell them. If your ex husband calls to as when your last massage was, no, I cannot tell him. If your boss calls to make sure you're leaving work for a legitimate appointment, I can only confirm after getting your permission.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, some scenarios fall under mandatory reporting. These include situations of sexual abuse by a member of a regulatory health college (a member of the list I linked to above), or cases of child or elder abuse.
Bowmanville Valley's official privacy policy is posted at the clinic. Copies can be provided to clients upon request. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our commitment to confidentiality!
Jenna
Most people know that when you go in to visit your family doctor, what you talk about and what gets written in your file is on lock down. Not even your husband or wife could call the office and find out health information about you without the clinic obtaining your written consent to do so.
What most people don't know is that the same laws that prohibit your family doctor from sharing your medical conditions, prescriptions and appointment details with anyone but you, also apply to Registered Massage Therapists.
All Regulated Health Professionals (including, but not limited to, Medical Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors etc. For a complete list visit http://www.regulatedhealthprofessions.on.ca/WHOWEARE/default.asp and view the list along the right side of the screen) are bound by what we call PHIPA.
PHIPA stands for Personal Health Information Protection Act. If you consider yourself to be a bit of a legal eagle (or you just want to be eased into a nice long nap) you can view the Act in it's entirety here: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_04p03_e.htm
If neither of the above apply to you I'll give you a quick run down. As a Regulated Health Professional my commitment to my clients is that anything we discuss will remain between us. The information in your file, on your account on my computer, emails between us, or any other identifying information about you or your treatment is strictly confidential. I can't share it with my family or yours, or your boss, or your insurance company, not even another health care professional you are seeing.
If however, a situation arises where you need to me release certain information, that can be done with a simple consent form. I sign, you sign. It's a fairly straight forward process.
PHIPA also ensures that your information is kept under lock and key. We are required to keep all health records for a minimum of ten years after the last appointment. After that, records can be destroyed by shredding.
So, to summarize, if your friend calls and asks if I'm your Massage Therapist, no, I cannot tell them. If your ex husband calls to as when your last massage was, no, I cannot tell him. If your boss calls to make sure you're leaving work for a legitimate appointment, I can only confirm after getting your permission.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, some scenarios fall under mandatory reporting. These include situations of sexual abuse by a member of a regulatory health college (a member of the list I linked to above), or cases of child or elder abuse.
Bowmanville Valley's official privacy policy is posted at the clinic. Copies can be provided to clients upon request. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our commitment to confidentiality!
Jenna
Saturday 4 August 2012
Our sign has arrived!
You may find it a bit easier to navigate to the clinic now that we've installed our sign!
Friday 3 August 2012
Do you keep your Massage Therapy receipts?
Even if you do not have extended health insurance for massage, it is an eligible medical expense on your tax return! It fits under the category "Medical Service Performed by a Qualified Medical Practitioner". There are more details on the CRA website.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns300-350/330/llwbl-eng.html
Always a good idea to hang onto your receipts!
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns300-350/330/llwbl-eng.html
Always a good idea to hang onto your receipts!
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