Treatment Expectations Guide | Alpine Physical Therapy

WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY FIRST VISIT?

During your first visit, you can expect the following:

Arrive at your appointment with your paperwork completed (you can download it from our website — see the paperwork or forms link).
You will provide us with your prescription for physical therapy.
We will copy your insurance card.
You will be seen for the initial evaluation by the therapist.
The therapist will discuss the following:
1. Your medical history.
2. Your current problems/complaints.
3. Pain intensity — what aggravates and eases the issue.
4. How this is impacting your daily activities or your functional limitations.
5. Your goals with physical therapy.
6. Medications, tests, and procedures related to your health.
The therapist will then perform an initial evaluation, provide treatment based on their findings, and provide an initial home exercise program.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME?

HOW SHOULD I DRESS?

HOW LONG WILL EACH TREATMENT LAST?

HOW MANY VISITS WILL I NEED?

WHAT DO PHYSICAL THERAPISTS DO?

You have probably heard of the profession of physical therapy. Maybe you have had a conversation with a friend about how physical therapy helped get rid of his or her back pain, or you might know someone who needed physical therapy after an injury. You might even have been treated by a physical therapist yourself. But have you ever wondered about physical therapists—who they are and what they do? Many people are familiar with physical therapists' work helping patients with orthopedic problems, such as low back pain or knee surgeries, to reduce pain and regain function. Others may be aware of the treatment that physical therapists provide to assist patients recovering from a stroke (e.g., assisting them with recovering use of their limbs and walking again).

The ability to maintain an upright posture and to move your arms and legs to perform all sorts of tasks and activities is an important component of your health. Most of us can learn to live with the various medical conditions that we may develop, but only if we are able to continue at our jobs, take care of our families, and enjoy important occasions with family and friends. All of these activities require the ability to move without difficulty or pain.

Because physical therapists are experts in movement and function, they do not confine their talents to treating people who are ill. A large part of a physical therapist's program is directed at preventing injury, loss of movement, and even surgery. Physical therapists work as consultants in industrial settings to improve the design of the workplace and reduce the risk of workers overusing certain muscles or developing low back pain. They also provide services to athletes at all levels to screen for potential problems and institute preventive exercise programs. With the boom in the golf and fitness industries, a number of physical therapists are engaged in consulting with recreational golfers and fitness clubs to develop workouts that are safe and effective, especially for people who already know that they have a problem with their joints or their backs.

The cornerstones of physical therapy treatment are therapeutic exercise and functional training. In addition to “hands-on” care, physical therapists also educate patients to take care of themselves and to perform certain exercises on their own. Depending on the particular needs of a patient, physical therapists may also “mobilize” a joint (that is, perform certain types of movements at the end of your range of motion) or massage a muscle to promote proper movement and function. Physical therapists also use methods such as ultrasound (which uses high-frequency waves to produce heat), hot packs, and ice. Although other kinds of practitioners will offer some of these treatments as "physical therapy," it's important for you to know that physical therapy can only be provided by qualified physical therapists or by physical therapist assistants, who must complete a 2-year education program and who work only under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.

Most forms of physical therapy treatment are covered by your insurance, but the coverage will vary with each plan. Most states do not legally require patients to see their physicians before seeing a physical therapist. Most of the time, all you have to do is ask your doctor if physical therapy is right for you.

Reference: APTA

WHY ARE PEOPLE REFERRED TO PHYSICAL THERAPY?

You and others may be referred to physical therapy because of a movement dysfunction associated with pain. Your difficulty with moving part(s) of your body (like bending at the lower back or difficulty sleeping on your side, etc.) very likely results in limitations with your daily activities (e.g., difficulty getting out of a chair, an inability to play sports, or trouble with walking, etc.). Physical therapists treat these movement dysfunctions and their associated pains and restore your body's ability to move in a normal manner.

WHO PAYS FOR THE TREATMENT?

WILL I GET A MASSAGE AT PHYSICAL THERAPY?

Massage may be part of your treatment. Rehabilitation specialists are trained in a variety of techniques that may help with your recovery. Deep tissue techniques may be part of the rehabilitative process. Massage is used for three reasons, typically: to facilitate venous return from a swollen area, to relax a tight muscle, or to relieve pain. Contrary to common thought, massage does not increase circulation.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PROBLEM OR PAIN RETURNS?

CAN I GO TO ANY PHYSICAL THERAPY CLINIC?

CAN I GO DIRECTLY TO MY PHYSICAL THERAPIST?

California is a direct access state. You may see your therapist without a referral as long as you have been given a diagnosis by a physician in the past. If you have never seen a physician for your condition, then an initial evaluation can be made along with one treatment, and a referral to a physician would be made to determine a diagnosis and to allow you to continue your care. Most insurances require a referral from a physician to bill your insurance for payment. Check with your insurance to determine if a referral is necessary.

HOW DOES THE BILLING PROCESS WORK?

Billing for physical therapy services is similar to what happens at your doctor's office. When you are seen for treatment, the following occurs:

The physical therapist bills your insurance company, Workers' Comp, or charges you based on Common Procedure Terminology (CPT) codes.
Those codes are transferred to a billing form that is either mailed or electronically communicated to the payer.
The payer processes this information and makes payments according to an agreed-upon fee schedule.
An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is generated and sent to the patient and the physical therapy clinic with a check for payment and a balance due by the patient.
The patient is expected to make the payment on the balance, if any.

It is important to understand that there are many small steps (beyond the outline provided above) within the process. Exceptions are common to the above example as well. At any time along the way, information may be missing, miscommunicated, or misunderstood. This can delay the payment process. While it is common for the payment process to be completed in 60 days or less, it is not uncommon for the physical therapy clinic to receive payment as long as six months after the treatment date.

Frequently Asked Questions