A Morden Physiotherapist calls the recently announced Manitoba Post OP Funding and Reimbursement Program very good news.
The program will allow Manitobans who receive a total hip or knee replacement to receive physiotherapy treatments post surgically at a clinic of their choice.
To address long surgical wait times for hip and knee replacements, the provincial government has committed over the last number of years to increase the amount of surgeries being done in our province. Physiotherapist and Co-owner of the Carman, Morden, and Winkler Physiotherapy clinics, Ashley Froese, says the government also began to realize that in order to have successful surgeries, patients also need successful rehabilitation afterwards.
"Our goal, as physiotherapists is not to have patients undergo these surgeries and be good enough. We really want them to be excelling at what they want to do and what they enjoy in their retirement life ,or their work life, or their sport life, and we're excited to be a part of that."
Patients who do not have private or third party insurance are eligible for 6 individual physiotherapy sessions or 10 group classes, including an initial assessment, through the program. Patients who have private or third party insurance are eligible to participate in the program after they have utilized their personal benefits.
"So you're going to see patients who can now seek out a clinic that's in their town, right where they live or closest to them," added Froese. "They now can have more accessibility to affording physiotherapy if an out of pocket treatment option just isn't financially available to them, or if they do carry private health insurance. Now they have access to tapping into this program after they've exceeded their health benefits, which is also huge."
Froese noted the announcement of this funding will definitely help to decrease post surgical therapy wait times, especially as we see the number of "same day" joint replacement surgeries at Boundary Trails continue to grow.
"We're going to see shorter distance of travel times. We know how large our cells and health region is. Patients who are possibly living out in Crystal City or in Elm Creek, you know that drive after having a surgery all the way to boundary trails may not be the most ideal for them. After having a surgery, so we're going to see patients who can now seek out a clinic that's in their town. That's right. Where they live or closest to them, they now can have more accessibility to affording physiotherapy if an out of pocket treatment option just isn't financially available to them.
Froese says giving patients the ability to seek out a physiotherapist or a clinic that they may have a trusted relationship, or a pre-existing relationship helps to ease their comfort level when they're going through their therapy journey. "And there's also evidence to prove that really helps support a successful outcome. So, all in all, we're excited for all physiotherapists in Manitoba, and all patients in Manitoba, because we think this is just going to be a great opportunity for everyone."