The Physiotherapy Voucher Program

The Physiotherapy Voucher Program allows people who have had non-complex hip or knee replacement surgery to attend a private practice physiotherapy clinic to help with recovery.

If eligible, you will receive a Physiotherapy Voucher from a physiotherapist at the hospital where you had your surgery before you are discharged. If you are not eligible, the physiotherapist at the hospital will send a referral to the closest Island Health Outpatient Physiotherapy Department. 

Information for Non-Complex Hip Replacement 

• Rehabilitation for your hip replacement will occur at your choice of the approved private physiotherapy clinics.
• There is no cost for you to receive physiotherapy for your hip replacement at this private clinic for up to 4 sessions.
• Your funded physiotherapy sessions must be completed within 16 weeks of your surgery date.
• There is an expiry date listed on the top of your Physiotherapy Voucher.
• The Physiotherapy Voucher can only be used for your hip replacement rehabilitation. 
• You may not need all 4 physiotherapy sessions.

Information for Non-Complex Knee Replacement 

• Rehabilitation for your knee replacement will occur at your choice of the approved private physiotherapy clinics.
• There is no cost for you to receive physiotherapy for your knee replacement at this private clinic for up to 10 sessions.
• Your funded physiotherapy sessions must be completed within 16 weeks of your surgery date.
• There is an expiry date listed on the top of your Physiotherapy Voucher.
• The Physiotherapy Voucher can only be used for your knee replacement rehabilitation. 
• You may not need all 10 physiotherapy sessions.

Eligibility

• All clients whose non-complex hip or knee replacement surgery was at an Island Health site and who live in the following participating areas:
  • Campbell River (including Quadra Island, Gold River)
  • Comox Valley (Courtenay, Cumberland, Comox, Denman Island, Hornby Island)
  • Cowichan Valley (Mill Bay, Cobble Hill, Duncan, Lake Cowichan)
  • Ladysmith
  • Nanaimo
  • Nanoose
  • Parksville 
  • Port Alberni 
  • Qualicum 
• BC residents (covered by the BC Medical Services Plan) who had their surgery in another Health Authority, province, or country but live in the Island Health region. 

Communities not included: 

• Greater Victoria (Southern Gulf Islands, Sooke, Port Renfrew) – Post-Op Physiotherapy is provided by ReBalanceMD.  
• West of Port Alberni (Tofino, Ucluelet) – Post-Op Physiotherapy is provided at the Tofino General Hospital.
• North of Campbell River – Post-Op Physiotherapy is provided at either the Port Hardy Hospital or Port McNeill Hospital, or the client could drive into Campbell River and use a voucher. 

How to Use your Physiotherapy Vouchers

Book an appointment with the private practice physiotherapist of your choice from the provided Approved Clinic List in the recommended time frames as soon as you have your surgery date. 

Hip: Your first appointment for a total hip replacement should be approximately 2 – 3 weeks after your surgery and then every 2-3 weeks (for up to 4 sessions in total).

Knee: Your first appointment for a knee replacement should be at approximately 1 – 2 weeks after your surgery, followed by weekly for the first 6 weeks, then every 2 weeks after that (for up to 10 sessions in total).

*Note: It is essential that you bring the Physiotherapy Voucher to your appointment, as this is how Island Health will pay for your treatment sessions at the private clinic. 

If you have complications during your recovery, or you have not achieved the recovery expectations within the maximum number of funded visits or 16 weeks (whichever comes first), you have 2 options:

1. Continue with the private practice physiotherapist you attended with your voucher and pay privately (or use your extended benefits).
2. Ask the private practice physiotherapist you attended with your voucher to refer you back to Island Health for an assessment to see if further physiotherapy is needed at the closest Island Health Outpatient Physiotherapy Department.

Home Exercises

Doing your home exercise program provided by the physiotherapist at the hospital or the private practice physiotherapist is the most important part of rehabilitation.
Hip Surgery: exercises can be found in Getting Ready and Recovering from Hip Replacement Surgery.
Knee Surgery: exercises can be found in Getting Ready and Recovering from Knee Replacement Surgery.

Questions or Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns, contact your local hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Department:

Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Department Phone Numbers:

Feedback

You can provide feedback about The Physiotherapy Voucher Program via our online survey.