How do I arrange an appointment?
Simply call our office at 410-560-3931, and schedule an initial appointment with our
receptionist. Insurance information will be gathered at that time in order to determine
whether a referral from your physician will be required, and to provide you with information
regarding your specific insurance coverage for physical therapy services.
What should I bring with me?
Bring any pertinent medical reports, diagnostic test results (x-rays, MRI, etc.), a
list of
your current medications, and any brace or device which you are currently using. Also
bring your insurance card so that we may make a photocopy. If a referral from your
primary care physician is required, you may also need to bring this if it has not been
previously faxed or mailed to our office.
What should I wear?
Loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and tennis shoes are usually best. Loose-fitting
shorts
or sweat pants, and a t-shirt are recommended. Your therapist will tell you if different
clothing is required. Should your therapist indicate the need for a patient gown for
any
reason, one will be provided.
What about my regular doctor?
We do not replace your regular physician. You should continue to consult with him or
her
for all you medical needs. During your physical therapy, we will communicate frequently
with your physician and provide him or her with copies of you evaluation, progress
reports, and discharge summary. We will contact your physician to discuss your case
if
we find that you are not progressing as expected.
What if I have to cancel an appointment?
Simply call our office and notify the receptionist. Please provide us with at least
24 hours
notice, or as soon as you are aware that you can not make your appointment, so that
another patient can utilize that appointment time. There are frequently patients who
have
been placed on a waiting list and are waiting to be fit in to our schedule.
What about insurance?
See our 'Insurances We Accept' page for a list of the insurance companies with whom
we
participate. Although these are the main insurance companies with whom we participate,
there are many other insurance companies who will cover services provided by our clinic.
If your insurance company is not listed here, you may contact your insurance company
to
verify coverage, or as a courtesy to our patients, we will provide this service for
you.
Please be prepared to give our receptionist your insurance information so that we may
verify coverage with your insurance carrier. If there are any questions after this process,
we will contact you.
How do I pay my portion of the bill?
Prior to or at the time of your first visit, we will discuss insurance coverage and
your
payment responsibilities with you. Deductibles, co-insurance and co-payments are
required at the time of each visit. We will file any necessary insurance claims, and
once
all payment from your insurance company is receive, we will inform you if any
additional payment is required.
We will also provide you with monthly statements until such time as your account has
been fully settled so that you are aware of any charges to and payments from your
insurance carrier.
What should I expect on my first visit?
The primary goal of your initial visit is for your physical therapist to perform a thorough
diagnostic evaluation, and to gather all pertinent information regarding your case.
Your
specific insurance information and coverage will be reviewed with you by our business
office. The initial evaluation process will typically take up the majority of your initial
visit. Your physical therapist will review all findings, discuss treatment recommendations
and review treatment goals.
What types of treatment may I receive?
Treatment will vary depending on your diagnosis and functional limitations. Your
physical therapist will determine what specific treatment intervention will best suit
your
condition, and will progress your treatment program or make modifications over based
on
your response. Our main focus is to restore function and to minimize your pain. Most
treatments will incorporate manual therapy, which means the therapist utilizes hand
techniques on your muscles and joints; neuromuscular re-education which helps to
establish more normal patterns of movement and eliminate pain-generated guarding
patterns; therapeutic exercise to assist in healing, promote movement, reduce tightness
and improve strength; and extensive on-going postural and body mechanics education.
Your treatment may also include modalities such as heat/cold and electrical stimulation
to
assist in pain management. All treatment programs will incorporate a comprehensive
home exercise program.
How long will my treatment take?
Your initial visit will typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Your regular treatment sessions
will
last 45 to 75 minutes, and as your program progresses over the weeks, you should expect
your sessions to last 1 to 2 hours (depending on the severity and complexity of your
specific case). After the first one to two weeks of treatment, your physical therapist
will
be able to assess your response to treatment and provide you with a more accurate
indication of the overall length of stay (remaining number of weeks) required to achieve
your established goals.
How is my progress measured?
You and your physical therapist will establish goals for your treatment. Some common
treatment goals include decreasing pain, improving joint motion, improving tolerance
and
ability to perform work and daily household related tasks, returning to leisure activities,
reducing reliance on medications, and establishing an effective home self-management
program. These parameters are measured through ongoing examination by your physical
therapist, questionnaires, and your response to various functional activities.
Will I need follow-up or maintenance care?
It is the primary objective of your physical therapist to educate you on your particular
dysfunction, and to increase your awareness of those factors which may have originally
caused your problem. Prior to your discharge from our care, you will have been
instructed in an effective self-management program which you will need to continue to
perform independently at home. Our goal is to minimize your dependence on the health
care system in general, and to feel confident in your own ability to manage your problem.
We are always available for questions or suggestions should you need advice after you
have been discharged. Should you re-injure yourself, we will be here for you for follow-
up care.
What else do I need to know?
Just this; the speed and quality of your recovery depends on you! You are a partner
in the
treatment plan developed by your therapist and with hard work and perseverance you will
achieve the best possible outcome. We will do our absolute best to ensure you achieve
the
established treatment goals, and we need you to be focused, committed, and an active
participant in the rehabilitation process.
What if I have more questions?
Don't hesitate to ask your therapist any questions about your treatment. It is critical
to the
success of your rehabilitation that you have a good understanding of your condition
and
the reasons for specific treatment applications. You should know what to expect, what
is
happening, and feel confident in the care you are receiving. If you are unsure of your
therapist's instructions or your home exercise program, please call and discuss your
concerns.