In most of Canada, patients can see a physiotherapist without a referral from a physician. Even so, many patients still ask their family physician for a referral first, and some publicly funded programs, workplace insurance plans and private insurers still require one for coverage.
That leaves physicians and physiotherapists working with a mix of referred and self-referred patients, often with no shared record. A few simple habits make that work better for everyone.
When a referral still helps
- The patient's insurer or funded program requires one for coverage.
- There is relevant history, imaging or a red flag the physiotherapist should know about.
- The physician wants a specific assessment or plan of care, with a report back.
Closing the communication loop
Physiotherapists regularly assess patients whose physicians do not know they are in treatment. A brief initial report to the patient's primary care provider, with the patient's consent, helps avoid duplicate investigations and conflicting advice. In the other direction, a referral that states the question being asked is far more useful than one that says only "assess and treat."
Scope of practice
The services a physiotherapist may provide, such as ordering certain imaging or performing specific controlled acts, vary by province and are set by each provincial regulator. Physicians who are unsure what a local physiotherapist can do should check the provincial college's website or simply ask.
Articles on medical.ca are written for health professionals. They are general information and do not replace your own clinical judgment, your regulatory college's guidance or advice from a lawyer or accountant.