Do I have to undress for my massage?

​

Massage usually is performed with hand contact to the skin with the use of a massage oil or lotion, for best results. As a client you only undress to your level of comfort and are under sheets that are only undraped when a specific area is being treated, but it is never exposed. Massage can be performed through your clothing or over the sheets if you prefer. 

​

How often should I have a massage therapy treatment? 

​

In an ideal world, a weekly appointment would be best to keep one active and their muscles working optimally, realistically however most people book a massage monthly as a preventive part of their healthcare. When you first come in and start having massages you may have a chronic or acute condition that may have been bothering you for months or many years. In this case I will perform an assessment and then will discuss recomendations on a treatment plan with you. Most often, I recomend having 2-4 apointments closer together so you benefit more and make lasting changes and then continue for preventative healh.

​

You must remember that during a course of a week you may only be on the massage table for an hour leaving the remainder of the hours spent in daily activities, sitting at a desk or driving; all of which in a postion of poor posture. These all are contributing to your ongoing pain that you may be experiencing.

​

If you think of it this way, you have a shower once or twice and brush your teeth three times daily as prevention to having tooth decay and body odor. It is only logical that getting regular massage works the same way to keep the achs and pains away.

A regular massage appointment every 3-6 weeks is best for pain prevention . Many massage clients who have specific conditons that are acute receive 1-2 massage appointments a week, then weekly or bi-weekly.

​

The best recommendation I could give you is not to wait for pain to be the determining factor to book another massage appointment.     

​

Will my extended healthcare plan cover my massage therapy treatments? 

 

Yes, most extended healthcare plans cover registered massage therapy. You may need a physicians referral, so it is always best to check your plan. 

​

Cancellation Policy

 

In the event of a cancellation, please provide 24 hour advance notice. This allows the opportunity to offer the appointment time to another client. Please respect your RMTs professional time . To you it may only be a missed massage appointment, but it's like you going to work and unexpectedly not being paid for a quarter of your work day. You are more than welcome to substitute in a family memeber or friend who is an existing client, if at the last minute you realize you cannot attend. If you are unable to provide 24 hour advance notice, we will not be able to fill your time slot and you will be charged the full amount, which will be applied to your next appointment. The amount must be paid in full.

 

Late Policy

 

If arriving late for your scheduled appointment, you will recieve the remainder of your appointment time and will be charged full price for your appointment.

 

Missed/No Show Appointments 

 

Anyone who forgets or chooses to forget their appointment will be considered a 'no show' and will be charged the full fee, which must be paid before recieving any further treatments. 

​

Privacy of Information Policy under "Personal Health Information Protection Act" (PHIPA)

The Manger of the Privacy Policy of this clinic is : Michelle Marshall RMT

​

Collection of Information

​

We collect only the information required to provide safe and effective health care. We request that clients provide us with general and emergency contacts so that we may notify of any changes of time or cancellation of appointments. We also record addreses so that we may provide information or receipts when needed.

 

Keeping the files:

Files are kept in a secure location for 10 years after the last appointment, as required by the Regulated Health Profession Act (RHPA). Clients files are property of Michelle Marshall RMT. If your therapist leaves the clinic, your files will remain the property of the thetherapist. Once your personal information is no longer required, it will be destroyed. No information is kept electronically.

 

Access of files and information

​

Only the therapist who is treating you will have access to your file. If you agree to have massage treatments with another therapist at our clinic, than that practitioner will have access to your health records. If you consent to a referral to another practitioner, then basic information will be forwarded to that  practitioner.

​

If information is required by any third party, such as insurance company, lawyer or other health care provider, your written consent will be required before any information or documents are relesed.

​

If you wish to have us consult with another of your health providers, we will ask for your signed consent.

​

Client access to files

​

Clients have the right to see and read their files. A written request must be received 3 business days in advance. The privacy officer will assist you to understand the information in the file. Clients have a right to request changes to the personal information in their file. In any case where the privacy officer and the client cannot agree on an amendment to the information, such disagreements may be taken to the Infomation and Privacy Commissioner who may review the situation.

​

We will request reasonable payment for any photocopies, consultaion or summary of clients files.

We will provide you with an estimate of the total cost in advance of processing your requst.

 

Communication

​

We will use a method of communication agreed to in advance with each client. This may include telephone, voice mail messages, texts or email.