New Patients: What to Expect at Your First Visit
Booking a first appointment with a new clinic can feel like a step into the unknown, so at Weston Creek Chiropractic Centre we like to set it all out plainly. Here is exactly how your first visit runs, from booking to findings, what to bring, and what happens next, so you arrive knowing what to expect and can focus on feeling better.
Two minutes to book online · (02) 6288 6711
Booking Your First Appointment (Online or Phone)
You can book your first visit online in about two minutes using our new patient booking button, or by phoning reception on (02) 6288 6711. Choose a time that suits, and we will send a confirmation with everything you need to know before you arrive.
Making your first appointment is deliberately simple. Our online booking system lets you see real available times and choose the one that fits your day, whether that is an early start before work, a lunch break, or a Saturday morning. Select the new patient option, pop in your details, and you are booked, with a confirmation landing in your inbox straight away. The whole thing takes about two minutes and there are no forms to print.
If you would rather speak to a person, or you have a question about which appointment to choose, our reception team is happy to help over the phone. They can talk through your situation, point you to the right practitioner, and answer anything about parking, timing or what to bring. Some people prefer the reassurance of a quick chat before a first visit, and that is always welcome.
When you book, it helps to allow a little more time than you might for a routine appointment elsewhere, because a first visit includes a proper assessment. We would always rather give you the time to be examined and understood than rush you through. If you ever need to change the time after booking, you can do that online or with a quick call, and details for that are on our contact us page.
We know a first visit to a new practitioner can bring a little apprehension, particularly if you have not seen a chiropractor before or a previous experience elsewhere left you uneasy. There is nothing to be nervous about here. From the moment you walk in you will be met warmly, given time, and treated as a person rather than a problem to process. If it helps to bring a partner, friend or family member along to your first appointment, you are very welcome to.
What to Bring and How to Prepare
Bring your health-fund or DVA card for on-the-spot claiming, a list of any medications, and details of past injuries, scans or surgery relevant to your problem. Wear comfortable clothing you can move in. Arriving a few minutes early to complete your intake form makes for a relaxed start.
There is not much you need to bring, but a few things make your visit smoother. Have your private health-fund card, or your DVA card and GP referral, so we can claim at the desk. If you take any regular medications, a quick list is genuinely useful, and if you have had scans, X-rays or surgery connected to your current problem, bring the details or reports along; they help us build an accurate picture.
Wear something comfortable that you can move easily in. You will not need to change into a gown, but clothing that allows you to bend and move helps the examination, and it is worth avoiding anything too restrictive. If you are coming straight from work and that is not practical, do not worry, just let the practitioner know and they will work around it.
If you can, arrive five or ten minutes before your appointment to complete a short intake form covering your health history and what has brought you in. Doing this before you sit down with the practitioner means your whole appointment time can go on your assessment rather than paperwork. New patients can also complete their details online ahead of time when booking.
Your First Visit, Step by Step
Your first visit follows a clear path: a conversation about your history and goals, a hands-on physical examination, an explanation of what we have found in plain language, and a recommended plan. If anything falls outside chiropractic care, we will tell you and point you in the right direction.
- We listen. The visit opens with a proper conversation. We want to understand the problem that brought you in: when it began, the things that ease it and the things that aggravate it, your general health and history, and the parts of life it is getting in the way of, be that a full night's sleep, picking up a grandchild, or getting back on the netball court.
- We examine. Next comes a hands-on physical assessment. Depending on your problem, this may include checking how your spine and joints move, testing muscle strength and reflexes, and a few simple orthopaedic and neurological tests. It is thorough but gentle, and we explain each step as we go.
- We explain the findings. We then talk you through what we have found in plain English, not jargon. You will understand what we think is going on, how confident we are, and whether any further investigation, such as imaging, is warranted before we begin.
- We recommend a plan. Finally, we set out a suggested plan of care: what we would do, roughly how many visits we anticipate, and what you can do at home to help. You decide how to proceed, with all your questions answered.
An honest promise. If your problem is not something chiropractic care is suited to, we will say so plainly and help you find the right person, whether that is your GP, a physiotherapist, or another specialist. Sending you to the right place is part of looking after you properly.
Will You Be Treated on the First Visit?
In most cases, yes. Once the practitioner has assessed you and is confident it is safe and appropriate, treatment usually begins on the same first visit. Occasionally, if something needs further investigation first, we will explain why and arrange the right next step before starting care.
Most new patients do receive treatment on their first visit. Once the assessment is done and the practitioner is satisfied they understand your problem and that care is safe and suitable for you, there is usually no reason to wait, and starting on day one means you begin feeling the benefit sooner. What that first treatment involves depends entirely on what we have found and on what you are comfortable with; we will always talk it through before we begin.
There are times when we will hold off, and that is a sign of careful practice rather than a delay for its own sake. If your history or examination throws up something that should be investigated first, an imaging referral, say, or a question best answered by your GP, we will explain exactly why and make sure the right step happens before care starts. Your safety comes ahead of getting going quickly, and we would rather be sure than sorry.
Either way, you are always in control. Nothing is done without your understanding and consent, you can ask us to stop or slow down at any point, and if you would prefer to go away and think about the recommended plan before starting, that is completely fine. There is never any pressure to commit to anything on the day.
Your Care Plan and What Happens Next
After your first visit you will have a clear idea of what is going on and what we suggest doing about it. For a straightforward problem that might be just a few visits; for something longstanding it may be a longer, gradually spaced plan. We will always explain our reasoning rather than simply hand you a schedule.
A plan of care with us is a recommendation, not a lock-in. You can call a halt whenever you wish, and we build in points to reassess how you are responding, because bodies do not always follow the textbook. If you improve faster than expected, we happily wind things back; if progress stalls, we rethink the approach or consider whether another practitioner would serve you better. The plan works for you, not the other way around.
Alongside your in-clinic visits, we usually suggest simple things you can do at home, a stretch, a change to how you sit or sleep, a gentle exercise, so you are an active part of your own recovery rather than a passive passenger. Our aim throughout is to get you back to what you enjoy in as few visits as your body sensibly allows, and to keep you informed at every step. For a fuller walk-through of what a first appointment feels like, our blog covers the first visit in detail.
Fees, Rebates and HICAPS at the Desk
Your first visit costs a little more than a standard follow-up because it includes a full assessment. If you have private extras cover, we claim your rebate on the spot through HICAPS, so you pay only the gap. DVA patients with a card and referral are billed directly to the department.
We believe you should know what care costs before you book, so our prices are published openly. Your first appointment is priced a little above the ordinary follow-up rate, simply because the assessment takes more time; every visit after that is charged at the standard rate, with reduced pricing for pensioners and other eligible concession holders. Nothing is bundled into a package deal, and there is no membership or joining fee to sign up for.
If you hold private extras cover with chiropractic included, the rebate is claimed for you through our HICAPS terminal as your visit ends, leaving you to pay just the small remaining gap, with no paper claim to lodge. Veterans who hold a valid DVA card together with a current GP referral are covered by the department directly, at no cost to them on the day. You will find the full breakdown, along with how health funds and Medicare fit in, on our fees and rebates page, and reception is always glad to confirm a figure over the phone before you come in.
Book Your First Visit With Us Today
Choose a time that suits you, bring your health-fund or DVA card, and arrive a few minutes early for your intake form. We will take care of the rest. Book online using the new patient button below, or phone the clinic on (02) 6288 6711.
1/43 Brierly St, Weston ACT 2611 · free two-hour parking directly across the road