Changing clinics can leave you wondering how much of your treatment history you need to repeat. Perhaps you have had dry needling elsewhere in Perth, have moved closer to Murdoch, or want to discuss your care with a different physiotherapist.
Short answer: You can request access to the health information your previous provider holds about you. Ask your new clinic which records would be useful, then ask the previous provider how to request those records or arrange a transfer. Do not assume that booking an appointment automatically transfers your history.
Summary of the Content:
- Australian Government myGov guidance says you have the right to request access to your health information from a provider.
- Our initial consultation includes discussion of medical history, previous injuries and current medicines or supplements.
- My Health Record does not replace the separate records kept by your healthcare providers.
- Previous dry needling does not remove the need to discuss risks and consent before a new treatment.
Which information should I bring from my previous clinic?
At Impact Dry Needling & Technology, our published dry needling process starts with a discussion of your medical history, including previous injuries, surgeries and ongoing conditions. You will also be asked about medicines and supplements, symptoms and treatment goals.
Use that discussion to explain what care you have already had. You do not need to remember a technical name for every technique. If you have information already, organise it into a short set of notes:
- Where and when you were treated, with the previous clinic’s contact details.
- What problem you originally sought help for and what has changed since.
- The treatment dates you know, including the most recent dry needling session.
- Any written treatment summary, home-exercise plan or aftercare instructions already given to you.
- What you noticed during or after treatment, including anything you were concerned about.
- The questions you want to discuss at the new appointment.
This is a practical way to organise the conversation, not a requirement to obtain every item before you can contact us. Ask reception what to bring and whether the practitioner would like information from your previous provider.
How do I ask for my records?
Contact the provider that holds the records. The Australian Government’s myGov guidance on requesting health information says only you, or a person you have authorised, can make the request.
A request could say:
“I am arranging care with another physiotherapy clinic. Please let me know how to request access to my treatment records, or authorise a copy to be sent to the new provider. Could you confirm what information you need from me, the expected timing and any fee?”
If you would like information sent directly to your new clinic, ask both providers how to arrange that. Check the receiving clinic’s details before authorising a transfer. Ask what identity or consent information the previous provider needs; do not assume that one clinic’s form is used everywhere.
Will the records arrive before my appointment?
Ask the previous clinic for its expected timing, then tell your new clinic if the records may not arrive before the appointment. Ask what information the practitioner needs beforehand and what you should bring yourself. We cannot promise the timing of another clinic’s response.
If a fee is mentioned, ask what it covers before agreeing. This article does not set a fee or processing time for any provider. For advice about a specific access request, use the government guidance linked above.
Is everything already in My Health Record?
No. Healthdirect explains that My Health Record does not replace existing health records. Providers still keep their own records, and a My Health Record may contain little or no information when first accessed.
It can contain information such as current medicines, allergies, referral letters and test or scan reports. Do not assume that a previous clinic’s detailed dry needling notes or exercise programme are available there. Ask the relevant provider about those records separately.
This article does not establish whether our clinic can view your My Health Record or which documents are available in your account. Discuss the information you have rather than relying on automatic access.
Will the new practitioner simply continue the same treatment?
Our process includes reviewing your history and discussing your current symptoms and goals. Bringing previous records supports that conversation; it does not replace it or decide which treatment is suitable now.
The Australian Institute of Sport’s dry needling guidelines, written for sport-related physical therapies, say the risks must be explained to and accepted by the patient before needling. They also note limits in the evidence for effectiveness and the need to consider benefits against risks. Having agreed to treatment elsewhere is not a reason to skip that discussion.
Our safety information lists possible soreness, bruising, fatigue and temporary pain, as well as less common problems including fainting, infection and nerve effects.
The AIS guidance also identifies a rare risk of pneumothorax, or a punctured lung, and calls for particular care around lung fields. Ask about risks for the proposed area, alternatives to needling and the warning signs that need medical attention.
If you have chest pain or trouble breathing, healthdirect advises calling triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Do not wait for records to arrive or for a routine appointment.
For more detail, read our existing guide to dry needling consent and risk questions. If you are trying to describe what happened after an earlier session, our article on post-dry-needling soreness provides related reading; tell the practitioner about your own experience rather than assuming it matches a general description.
Questions to Ask at Your New Appointment
- Which parts of my previous treatment record would be useful?
- Do you need to speak with my previous physiotherapist or another treating provider?
- What information is still missing, and does it change today’s assessment?
- What are the options now, including options without dry needling?
- If treatment is proposed, what are its risks and when would we review the plan?
Sources
Sources checked 14 November 2026. This is general information about preparing for care and accessing records, not personal treatment or legal advice.
- Australian Government myGov: Requesting access to your health information, updated 6 November 2026.
- Healthdirect: About My Health Record, reviewed March 2024.
- Australian Institute of Sport: Dry needling guidelines, for sport-related physical therapies.
- Impact Dry Needling: Process and safety and side effects.
Final Thoughts
Bring the records you have, explain what is still being requested and ask how information can be shared between providers. You do not need to reconstruct every appointment from memory before asking for help.
Impact Dry Needling & Technology is at Tower C, Level 4, Suite 404, 44 Barry Marshall Parade, Murdoch WA 6150. Call (08) 6148 8266 or contact the clinic to ask about an appointment and transferring records. You can read Nick Wigger’s practitioner profile or use our online booking page.
