Why Your Doctors PT Referral Doesn’t Determine Your Destination
When you're in pain or recovering from an injury, your doctor is often the first person you turn to for help. If they hand you a referral for Physical Therapy, it can feel like a direct order to a specific clinic.
While a PT referral indicates the doctor is prescribing physical therapy as the mode of treatment they believe can help you recover from your condition, the choice of where you take that order to receive care is still yours.
It's like when a doctor prescribes an antibiotic or high blood pressure medication and then asks what pharmacy they should send it to. Rather than being limited to staying within the same healthcare system the doctor is in, or choosing from a short list on a brochure, you get to decide where you receive your PT care. You can find a clinic that provides excellent quality of care, great customer service, and appreciates your choice of trusting them with your health. This is great news!
Understanding Your Right of Choice
In the world of healthcare, the Right of Choice is a fundamental patient right. Legally and ethically, you are the primary stakeholder in your recovery.
If the facility is in your insurance network (and sometimes even if they aren't, depending on your plan), you can take that piece of paper to any physical therapy clinic you prefer. Your doctor's office can simply fax the necessary paperwork, or you can bring your PT order to the clinic when scheduling or attending your first appointment.
3 Things to Look for in a PT Clinic
Before you settle on a clinic, do a little homework, and look for these things:
Specialization: Not all PT is created equal. If you have a running injury, look for a clinic that specializes in sports medicine or running analysis. If you have chronic back pain, look for specialists in spinal treatment.
Therapist Consistency: Ask the clinic: "Will I see the same therapist every time?" Will I work with a PT, an assistant or an extender? One-on-one care with the same provider allows for better progress tracking and a stronger relationship.
Authentic Reviews: Look past the star rating. Read the comments to see if patients felt heard, if the PTs deliver great care, if scheduling was easy, if the hours and location are convenient and if the support staff was helpful with insurance hurdles.
Already Scheduled with or Attending a PT Clinic That You Are Not Sure About?
Consider some of these questions:
Do you feel like you were scheduled with the first available PT instead of a specific PT whose skill set aligns with your condition?
Do you feel like you were sent to PT within the same healthcare system to keep you in that system to maximize that corporation’s profit, even if someone outside of the system might provide you with better care?
Were you asked to see a different PT, assistant, or extender from one visit to the next?
If you’re answering YES, it’s time to find a better PT experience! Now let’s try these:
Was scheduling easy and was the person you spoke with friendly and helpful?
Were you able to set up your first visit in a reasonable amount of time?
If you look at the clinic’s website, does the provider’s bio match your needs?
Do the providers and support staff listen to you and are they attentive to your needs?
Do they call you by name and thank you for coming in?
You deserve to find a clinic where being able to say YES to those is the expectation.
Here’s how to Switch if You're Already Started
What if you've already attended a few sessions at a clinic, and you aren't feeling like it's the right fit? You are allowed to change your mind, and you don't need to feel guilty.
Step 1: Find the new clinic you'd like to attend.
Step 2: Call and schedule a visit at the new clinic you'd like to attend. They should be able to answer all your questions and help you with any insurance issues.
Your recovery is an investment of your time and money. Don't settle for average when you can have exceptional. We invite you to discover that standard of care at Accelerated Sports Therapy and Fitness. Our team is dedicated to helping you live life without limitations.