Patient services
Hello, we look forward to meeting you!
At Hand Works, we extend a warm welcome to anyone grappling with pain, loss of function, or any diagnosed or undiagnosed injury or condition affecting the hand, wrist, or elbow, which could be hindering their quality of life.
Please scroll through our FAQs below and then get in touch to find out more about how we can help you.
What is the therapy process?
Our highly trained hand therapists specialize in conducting comprehensive assessments to evaluate pain levels, functional movement, swelling, wounds, scars, and diagnostic imaging results, enabling accurate diagnosis of a wide array of injuries and conditions.
Utilising scientifically-grounded clinical reasoning, each patient benefits from personalised one-on-one treatment plans. These plans may entail the creation of custom-made orthoses (splints) to immobilise and safeguard the patient’s condition or injury. Treatment modalities encompass education, pain and swelling management, wound and scar care, as well as tailored exercise prescriptions.
Rehabilitation strategies focus on stretching, strengthening, and conditioning, with a primary goal of facilitating the return to work or essential daily tasks. Nothing brings us greater joy than discharging patients who are fully informed about their condition or injury and the progress they’ve achieved throughout their journey with us.
Frequently asked questions
A private patient is someone who is paying for their treatment costs directly and not wishing to claim under a worker’s compensation, motor vehicle (MVA) or Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) claim. A doctor’s referral is recommended, however, not essential.
A workers’ compensation patient is someone with a work-related injury or a “workers’ compensation case/claim number”. When adequate information is provided, including employer details and a current doctor’s referral, patients are not responsible for therapy costs at the time of treatment. Should their claim not be approved, patients would then revert back to private patient terms and conditions including direct payment.
A practitioner in hand therapy is either a registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist who, through further education, clinical experience and independent study, have become proficient in the treatment of hand and upper limb conditions resulting from injury, disease or deformity.
No. Whilst both are trained extensively in anatomy, pathophysiology and the musculoskeletal system, they have studied separate degrees under the Bachelor of Science banner. Occupational Therapy has a specific focus on holistic health care centred around the patient’s goals to perform tasks that are meaningful to them. In general, a physiotherapist helps to improve the quality of movement of the human body whereas an occupational therapist helps to improve and restore the quality of participation in an individual’s daily functional tasks.
Referrals are encouraged but not required for private patients. This enables us to directly communicate with your treating doctor to encourage a team approach and ensure that your needs are being met for your overall wellbeing. A referral is required for any patient attending Hand Works under a worker’s compensation scheme, motor vehicle accident claim (MVA), Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), or patients issued with a chronic illness care plan.
Simply call 1300 887 798 during business hours. Our central line will connect you with our friendly administration team who will start by asking you a series of questions to enable us to accurately match you with a location and therapist to best meet your needs. Alternatively click on the “book now” button on our website to leave us with a small amount of information and we will contact you within 24 hours.
Fees and payments
Hand Works Occupational Therapy is a private billing practice, with payment required on the day of treatment for all private patients. We prefer payment via EFTPOS (Visa Card and Master Card only), however, cash is accepted. Arrangements may be made in advance for credit card phone payments if required.
Private Health Insurance rebates may be available to you, however, we are unable to provide on the spot rebates due to item codes.
We are not a bulk billing practice, however, we do accept Medicare care plans provided by your GP – full payment on the day is required and an out of pocket expense still applies. Please scroll through our FAQ’s above or call us on 1300 887 798 for further information.
A detailed estimate of our fees will be provided to you at the time of booking, however, feel free to call for an obligation free quote prior to booking.
Failure to attend a booked appointment without cancellation, may incur a fee of $80.