Frequently asked questions

Your stay in hospital

Q: Will I see a physiotherapist?

A: Not everyone who is in hospital will see a physiotherapist.

The physiotherapist will see you if you’re having any troubles moving after an illness, fall, surgery or after giving birth.

Sometimes you may see a physiotherapist before your surgery for information.

Q: Should I bring my walker or walking stick if I have one at home?

A: It is a good idea to bring your walker or walking stick to the hospital. Make sure it is clearly labelled with your name, otherwise it may go missing. The hospital will also have some equipment, but you may need to share it with other people.

Q: What should I wear in hospital?

A: It is a good idea to bring loose comfortable clothing so you can wear this when you are in hospital. Please try not to bring pyjamas.

Q: Can my family/ carers or other visitors get involved with helping me move?

A: Yes! It is great when family/ carers or other visitors get involved and help you move. If you are having any troubles with your walking and need help, please ask the staff about how your family or visitors can help you to avoid any injuries.

Your outpatient appointment

Q: What should I bring to my appointment?

A:

• Medicare card
• Xrays or any other scans

Q: What should I wear?

A: Loose comfortable clothing.

For example, if you have shoulder pain, the physiotherapist may ask you to move your shirt so they can see your shoulder.

Q: When should I arrive for my appointment?

A: It is best to try and arrive 10 minutes early to have time to check in at reception and have enough time for parking.

Q: What do I do when I arrive for my appointment?

A: You can check in with our friendly admin staff at reception and they will check your details.

Once you check in, sit in the waiting-room and wait for your physiotherapist to call out your name.

Q: Can I have my appointment online? For example, on my computer at home?

A: You can have online appointments with our physiotherapy staff. These online appointments are called ‘Telehealth’.

You can ask our admin staff when they call to schedule your appointment or discuss with your physiotherapist.

More information about Telehealth appointments.

Q: Can I cancel or reschedule my appointment?

A: If you need to cancel or reschedule, please let us know as early as possible (at least 2 days before your appointment). You will need to call our admin staff and they may ask you a reason for why you need to change your appointment.

Q: What happens if I accidentally forget my appointment?

A: You will be contacted by our staff to talk about your missed appointment. If you miss your appointment without letting us know twice, you will be removed from our system.

Q: Do you have a waitlist?

A: We have many clinics here at the RBWH Physiotherapy department with patients from all across Brisbane and even throughout Queensland. There is usually a waitlist to have an appointment with us and the wait times are different for everyone. If you are worried about how long you have been waiting, please contact our reception here:

Q: Can I bring a family member or carer to my appointment?

A: You are more than welcome to bring a family member or carer into your appointment if you would like to. You are also welcome to bring your baby into your appointment.

Q: Can I refer myself to the physiotherapy?

A: You need a referral from your doctor or other health professional to have an appointment with a physiotherapist at the RBWH.

Online Care (Telehealth)

Sometimes it is possible to have your appointment online via a video call (similar to FaceTime or Skype) which is also known as Telehealth or Virtual Care.

The RBWH Physiotherapy Department are leaders in providing care via telehealth. Since 2017 we routinely manage many conditions via telehealth, such back and joint pain, burn injury, before and after birth, and group programs such as Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Based on your condition, you can request your appointment to be completed either in-person, via telehealth (video call) or via telephone. Our friendly administrative team will be able to help you set up and connect to your physiotherapist.

Benefits of telehealth

• Reduce/ remove your need to travel
• Save money that would have been spent on parking/ fuel/ public transport
• Spend less time away from home and work
• Improve your access to timely care by reducing the need to come into hospital

What do I need?

• A computer device (laptop, computer, tablet, phone) with a working camera and microphone.
• Reliable internet connection, for example you can FaceTime or Skype with family, or watch a YouTube video

If you would like to know more information about our telehealth appointments, please ask your physiotherapist or administration officer.

It is important that you receive the best care possible. This means telehealth may not always be the best option for you. Please ask your physiotherapist if telehealth is right for you.

For more information, please see the Queensland Health Telehealth website.