Your first visit at Bluebird

Before you come in

A few things make the first visit smoother:

• Book online at bluebirdsportandspine.janeapp.com — it's open 24/7 and shows real-time availability.
• Fill in the new patient forms online through the booking system before you arrive. Saves you 10 minutes in the waiting room and ensures you get your full appointment time.
• Arrive a few minutes early if you need assistance filling out the new patient forms.
• Wear something you can move in — gym wear, athletic clothes — especially for orthopedic or sport-related issues. We need to see how you move.

What to bring

• A list of any medications and supplements you're taking
• Reports from any recent imaging (you don't need the actual films, just the report)
• Your extended health insurance details, if you have a plan
• For ICBC claims after a motor vehicle accident: your CL claim number
• Notes from any other providers you've seen for this issue

What happens at the visit

A new-patient visit runs 45–60 minutes. Roughly:

1. History. A conversation about what's bothering you, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you're hoping to get back to. Plus relevant medical history.
2. Physical exam. Focused on the area of concern — range of motion, strength, neurological screening if relevant, and movement assessment.
3. Findings. A clear explanation of what we think is going on, what's likely contributing, and what care could look like.
4. Initial treatment when appropriate. Some new patients receive an adjustment, soft-tissue work, or massage therapy at the first visit. Others — particularly more complex or acute presentations — start treatment at the next visit.
5. A plan. An honest sense of how many visits we expect, what to do between sessions, and what success looks like for your situation.

If chiropractic or massage therapy isn't the right fit for what you're dealing with, we'll tell you and refer you to the right provider. We'd rather have that conversation in the first visit than have you spend weeks on care that wasn't going to help.

Insurance and payment

Most extended health insurance plans cover chiropractic and registered massage therapy. For chiropractic visits with Dr. Steve or Dr. Laura, you pay at the time of the visit and submit a detailed receipt to your insurer for reimbursement (most insurers turn this around within a few days). For RMT visits with Julie, direct billing to most major extended health insurers is available — bring your plan details to your first appointment.

We don't direct-bill ICBC and we don't accept WorkSafe BC claims. More detail on our Insurance & Billing page.

Do I need a referral?

No. In British Columbia, you don't need a doctor's referral to see a chiropractor or registered massage therapist. Some extended health plans require a referral for reimbursement (separate from being allowed to book) — it's worth checking your plan summary.

Questions before booking

If you're not sure whether what you're dealing with is in our lane, give us a call at (250) 545-7545. A two-minute conversation usually sorts it out, and we'd rather you come in confident that we can help.