ANSWERS
Payment and Reimbursement
- Can I pay in
installments?
We accept cash payments or personal/company
cheques only. If you pay the balance by
cheque, you can submit up to 3 post-dated
cheques. If you pay in cash, we require the
full amount at the start of the program.
- Will my insurance
cover the cost of the program?
Many insurance companies will cover
kinesiology. If you are a cardiac patient,
don’t forget to look at the long-term
disability section of your insurance booklet
as cardiac rehabilitation might be
included. Companies that have covered
our program include:
Excellence,
Manulife, Desjardins, Sunlife, Blue Cross and
Great West Life.
- Is the program tax
deductible?
Yes. You can include it with your tax
return as a medical expense.
- Can I pay with a
credit card?
We are accepting payment by cheque or
cash only. No credit card or debit payments
are accepted at this time.
- What if I can’t
afford the cost of the program?
If this is a concern, please tell the
chip staff when you call or visit. We will ask
you to fill out a financial assistance form.
CHIP will cover between 20% - 55% of the
cost of the program depending on your
financial circumstances. If you are
eligible for subsidies, we will determine the
amount and develop a manageable payment plan.
Supervised Exercise Classes
- When do the
exercise sessions start?
There is no specific start
date. Once you have been cleared by the
doctor and have completed your exercise stress
test, a date for the initial private training
session will be determined. At that
session, the best start date for the program
will be decided.
- What happens in the
supervised exercise classes?
At the start of the class, you will
be given a heart rate monitor (or you will
bring your own) and your blood pressure
reading will be taken. At that time, the
kinesiologist will provide your exercise
prescription for the day. You will then
proceed to the gym to begin
exercising. The kinesiologist that
is on-site during the class will come by to
check your heart rate and provide you with
education and guidance during the class.
Supervised classes prepare individuals to
exercise on their own and provide both
structured guidance for exercise efficiency,
safety and support.
- What exercise class
times do you offer?
We offer supervised classes in the morning of
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:30AM,
8:45AM, 10:00AM, 11:15AM. Our
afternoon/evening classes are held Monday and
Wednesdays at 2:00PM, 5:15PM and 6:15PM.
- Who will monitor my
exercise training sessions?
A qualified kinesiologist will
monitor you throughout the entire class.
Heart rate and blood pressure will be taken
and your workout will be adjusted at each
class based on how you are feeling and your
progress.
- I am going away for
1-2 months. Can I start now and resume the
program upon my return?
This can be discussed. Ideally,
completing the program within a 4-month period
will give you optimal results. However, we
understand that you may have planned a trip
prior to entering CHIP. If you do start the
program before you leave, you will be
guaranteed a spot in one of the classes, but
it may not be the same class that you
initially started in.
- When I start
working again, my schedule will change. Can
I change my exercise class time?
Yes, there is always this possibility
provided that there is room at the new time.
- If I have to leave
early, can I start the classes sooner?
It is best to start at your class
time so that we can screen you properly before
you start exercising without taking away from
the other participants that are exercising. If
you let us know when you have to leave early,
we will try to work out a solution in advance
so that you don’t have to shorten your
session.
- Do we do weight
training or mostly cardiovascular exercise
in the program?
Generally, weight training will be
introduced after 8 sessions of participation
in the aerobic program. An aerobic program
will use cardio equipment in order to focus on
strengthening the heart. Depending on the
participant’s fitness level and medical
history, we may introduce weight training
sooner.
- Will I receive
dietary counseling?
It is highly recommended for most
participants; however, there is an extra fee
if you would like to see the dietician.
Most private insurance companies will cover
this service and we can provide a doctor’s
referral if needed.
- Will the program
help me lose weight?
Weight loss is a long-term goal and
requires long term lifestyle changes to be
safe and efficient. Participants who have the
most success with weight loss at CHIP are
those who come regularly to
their exercise classes, and who have increased
their volume of aerobic
exercise by exercising on their own on
non-class days. In many cases, dietary
counseling is necessary to help make
nutritional lifestyle changes.
- What happens when
I am finished the program?
When you are finished the program,
the kinesiologist will meet with you to
discuss your improvements and options for
continuing your exercise. If you want to
exercise at home, you will be given the
guidelines to do so. If you want more support,
we have the CHIP Annual program or Graduate
Health Check which will help with the
transition from being supervised to being able
to exercise on your own.
- Will I be able to
continue the exercises on my own?
Our goal is to educate the participants so
that they can continue to exercise on their
own after they have completed the CHIP
program. We are always available after you
graduate to come back to CHIP for help or to
update your program.
- Do I need to buy
any equipment?
We provide all the exercise equipment
at CHIP. However, investing in proper footwear
will be required to prevent injury. We
also recommend that you purchase your own
heart rate monitor to use while in class and
when you exercise on your own.
- Is there a
physician on site when I am exercising?
We do not always have a doctor on
site. If there is a problem before, during or
after class, the kinesiologist will contact
the doctor right away and is able to provide
the first responder care required in an
emergency situation.
- What facilities
can I use? Are there showers, towels,
lockers, and sauna?
There are showers and locker rooms
that you may use when you are here. CHIP
participants can use the day lockers in the
regular locker room and the security lockers
in front of the fitness center desk. For
an extra fee, participants can have access to
the Health Club which gives access to a
permanent locker, towel and robe service,
lounging area, dry and steam sauna.
- If I take one of
the CHIP programs, do I also need to take a
membership with the YMHA?
No you don’t need to take a membership with
the YMHA because all CHIP programs already
include it for the duration of your program.
- Is there parking?
Yes, there are a lot of free parking
spaces on the street outside of the
facilities. You also have access to indoor
parking for an extra one-time payment of $12
(+tx) good for as long as you have a
membership with the YMHA.
- Do you have a
transport service for patients?
Unfortunately, we do not provide this.
Please contact the STM for assistance.
Medical Visit and Support
- Do I need a
referral to CHIP from my physician?
No, you do not need an official referral but
it is important that your treating physician
knows that you plan to come to CHIP for
exercise. We will be sending all results
(exercise stress test and computerized
cardiovascular age and risk assessments) back
to your doctor to keep your file up to date.
We strongly advise that you bring a discharge
summary or operation report, as this is very
helpful for the CHIP physician to assess your
medical condition prior to starting the
program.
- Do I have to see a
CHIP physician prior to starting the
program?
Yes. All participants entering our
exercise programs must be seen by a CHIP
physician prior to starting (covered by
Medicare). The only exception is the Step-Up
program where the exercise component consists
of simple stretches.
- Why do I have to
have an exercise stress test?
An exercise stress test allows us to clear you
for exercise by ruling out complications which
may arise with exercise. Also, the results of
the stress test will be used to determine safe
and beneficial exercise intensity referred to
as the target heart rate zone.
- I did an exercise
stress test less than 6 months ago, can you
use the results?
This depends on a few factors and the CHIP
Physician will ultimately determine if another
stress test is necessary. Here are some
factors to consider: your fitness level can
change in just 6 months, we need to take into
consideration which medications you were on
when you did the test as this may impact your
target heart rate. Please bring your stress
test results along and discuss with the CHIP
physician whether it is necessary to repeat
the test.
- I’m not ready to
join the program but I’d like an evaluation.
Is this possible and what does it entail?
We can offer you a medical visit (covered by
Medicare) with one of our physician to
determine when would be the best time for you
to join and which program would be
appropriate. An exercise stress test can
only be offered when you decide to join one of
the supervised exercise programs.
-
I have no
GP/cardiologist. Can one of the CHIP
physicians follow me?
Participants will be followed here
throughout the CHIP program and are allowed
to return for up to 1 year after they have
completed the program. If a participant is
having difficulty finding a family doctor or
cardiologist, the CHIP doctors might be able
to advise you as to where to find one.
-
Can I do an
exercise stress test at CHIP to determine
if I have heart disease?
CHIP does not do diagnostic
testing. The exercise stress test
administered here at CHIP is for the purpose
of exercise prescription and entry in the
supervised program. If you have not been
diagnosed with heart disease and are
experiencing chest pains, please see your
doctor or go to the emergency.
-
If I don’t have an
Assurance Maladies (Quebec health) card,
can I still be seen by a CHIP doctor?
Yes, however, you will have to pay for the
medical visit and stress test (if this is
needed) and fill out a form for Medicare in
order to get reimbursed.
Independent Home Program and Private
Training
- I live far away and
can’t come 3 times / week – what are my
options?
We recommend the independent home program
for individuals who find it too hard to get
here 2 or 3 times a week or who have an
irregular work schedule. The home
program consists of 4 on site visits and
phone or email follow-ups with the
kinesiologist. It is designed to
provide a program that the individual can do
on his own. Subsequent visits are used to
modify the program as needed.
-
Do we exercise
during each session while in the home
program?
Not always. Here is an example of
what to expect: At session 1, the
kinesiologist will collect information about
your exercise history and will want to know
what equipment you have available. You will
be taken to the gym and will be shown how to
do the cardio & flexibility portions of
your program. At session 2, the exercise
physiologist will give you some weight
training exercises to add to your program.
At session 3, you will discuss how your
program is progressing and see if any
modifications need to be made. Session 4, we
will determine your long-term exercise plan.
-
Do I need
equipment for the home program?
Not necessarily. It is better to have
exercise equipment at home or in your
building such as a bike or treadmill OR have
a gym membership. The reason for this
is that exercising outdoors may not always
be practical because of the weather. If the
weather is not a concern a program can be
developed for you with as little equipment
as a heart rate monitor and a good pair of
shoes.
-
Can a
kinesiologist come to my place to make me
an exercise program?
Unfortunately, we are a small team
of kinesiologists so it is difficult for us
to offer home exercise sessions. You
should talk to one of our kinesiologists for
more information.
For further information
on any of our programs, please call us at
514-489-6630
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