{"id":1709,"date":"2020-05-14T13:02:03","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T13:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakthroughpt.confluentclinics.com\/blog\/direct-access-pt\/"},"modified":"2023-03-16T18:09:34","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T18:09:34","slug":"direct-access-pt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakthrough-pt.com\/es\/blog\/direct-access-pt\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Should You See a PT First?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Suffering From Aches & Pains?<\/h2>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve tweaked your back\u00a0<\/span>from a make-shift workspace<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>thinking this set-up will only be temporary \u2013 but it has been weeks.<\/span>\u00a0Maybe you\u2019ve pushed yourself a little too hard preparing for\u00a0<\/span>what was supposed to be your first half-marathon<\/span>\u00a0and that ache in your knee won\u2019t go away, even after a couple days off. Maybe you simply took a funny step off the curb\u00a0<\/span>on your nightly walk\u00a0<\/span>and are feeling a little twinge in your ankle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0when you\u2019re suffering from an ache, pain, or injury, you have a pretty good idea what you\u2019re dealing with and\u00a0<\/span>might be<\/span>\u00a0able to pinpoint the cause of it. That\u2019s not always the case, but when it is, wouldn\u2019t you rather get right to your physical therapist to begin treatment?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Physical Therapy Can Help<\/h2>\n

One thing we can leave in<\/span>\u00a0the pre-COVID past is the many<\/span>\u00a0hoops\u00a0<\/span>that you needed to<\/span>\u00a0jump through before\u00a0<\/span>getting started<\/span>. The first stop\u00a0<\/span>was<\/span>\u00a0your primary care physician, who<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>often<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>refer<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0you to an orthop<\/span>edic specialist, who w<\/span>ould then<\/span>\u00a0write you a prescription for physical therapy. That process alone\u00a0<\/span>too<\/span>k several weeks and a few insurance co-pays.\u00a0<\/span>The<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>way we access healthcare and doctors has changed<\/span><\/b>, and we are facing a new reality\u2014for the\u00a0<\/span><\/b>better!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

COVID-19\u00a0<\/span>has\u00a0<\/span>changed the way we live. The way we\u00a0<\/span>go to the store<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<\/span>see\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span>\u00a0d<\/span>oc<\/span>tor<\/span>\u00a0has been<\/span>\u00a0streamlined by c<\/span>ut<\/span>ting<\/span>\u00a0out a few steps<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>most importantly,\u00a0<\/span>sav<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0a few dollars!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>ead<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0directly to your physical therapist<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>the new normal<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>t\u2019s called<\/span>\u00a0direct access<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT EXACTLY IS DIRECT ACCESS?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

No smoke and mirrors here \u2013 it\u2019s just what it\u00a0sounds\u00a0like! Direct access is\u00a0<\/span>the ability to directly access your physical therapist without a physician referral or prescription<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

HOW DOES IT WORK?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Direct access is regulated at the state level. Some form of direct access exists in every state, though\u00a0<\/span>the specific laws vary<\/span><\/a>. Some states have no rules, while others have limits on the number of visits or the time period for which patients can seek physical therapy before a doctor\u2019s prescription becomes necessary. At the very least, though, every state allows a patient to receive an evaluation without a referral. If you\u2019re interest<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0in learning more about Direct Access Laws, we recommend visiting the\u00a0<\/span>American Physical Therapy Association\u2019s site<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SO\u00a0SHOULD I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, OR SHOULD I SEE MY PHYSICIAN FIRST?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yo<\/span>ur\u00a0<\/span>physical therapist\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>goal is to ensure that each patient receive<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0the highest quality of care available, that\u00a0<\/span>they\u2019re<\/span>\u00a0able to access that care quickly, and that\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the right care for them<\/span>. Our patients\u00a0<\/span>are seen<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>within\u00a0<\/span>one to two<\/span>\u00a0days of calling or\u00a0<\/span>requesting an appoint<\/span>ment online<\/span>, an upgrade from the\u00a0<\/span>average 24 days<\/span>\u00a0to see your primary care physician or\u00a0<\/span>orthop<\/span>edic<\/span>\u00a0surgeon. And of course, if your condition is beyond what we can treat,\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019ll<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>immediately<\/span>\u00a0refer you to the\u00a0<\/span>appropriate physician<\/span>\u00a0or specialist.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Find Out If Physical Therapy Is Right For You<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t
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Schedule an appointment with a licensed physical therapist to help recover from your chronic pain through hands-on manual therapy.<\/span><\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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WHY DOES DIRECT ACCESS\u00a0<\/span><\/b>REALLY<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0MATTER TO ME?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let us give you four good reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Early access saves money! Over 50% in back pain costs alone. It also often prevents the need for further healthcare. <\/span><\/b>Over 13 million Americans see their doctor each year for relief from chronic low back pain. The right physical therapy within 14 days of the onset of pain minimizes the average total cost of care by 50%. That’s a<\/span>\u00a0lot<\/span><\/b>\u00a0of money each year!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n