What is Direct Access? Over the last few months I have had multiple patients ask me if they could come see me directly without first needing to be seen by a physician. While the idea of direct accesses is relatively new, especially in the state of New Jersey (last 10 years), it has become a hot topic of discussion in PT schools, other healthcare professionals and now among you. So what is Direct Access? Direct Access in physical therapy means that you can go directly to a PT for evaluation and treatment of pain and other movement related issues.* Yes, by New Jersey State law you may visit a licensed physical therapist without supervision, orders, or prescriptions from other health care providers. So what’s in it for you? Why deviate from the traditional model where you are referred to physical therapy by a physician or other specialist?
Saves Money: Three things are certain in this world: death, taxes, and rising (insurance) co-pays and deductibles. In most instances of musculoskeletal pain, you’ll leave a physician’s office with a prescription for pain relieving drugs and a script for physical therapy. Going through a trial of PT first saves you some time and co-pays.
Systems review: Physicians perform a systems review to identify “red flag” situations that warrant immediate attention. Doctors of Physical therapy are also trained and qualified to do the same and are specifically taught how to find the root of movement related problems. Treating mechanical (movement related) problems requires mechanical solutions, and most physicians don’t have the time or training to get into the foundational movement impairments.
Time: Rest is good, up to a point. If medicine and a few days of rest are not helping your condition, the last thing you need is more medication with more rest. Rest does not identify and address the factors that cause pain or poor movement. Seeing a PT sooner than later may substantially impact the extent to which you reach full recovery. For example, physical therapists attempt to address that painful disc herniation or lateral ankle sprain before the mind and body begin to compensate and ingrain dysfunctional movement. (Look for my next blog on pain and how it impacts the brain in a few months!)
Independence: A vast body of evidence from virtually every medical discipline shows that chronic pain is a major dilemma. The more someone adapts a fear avoidance mindset and depends on health care providers, the poorer the outcome. PT is a conservative, patient empowering, proactive means of addressing the root of movement related problems.
No, we don’t fix every painful condition for every person. But doing all that we can to set you up for success, and building on that, a little at a time, often goes a long way. Here at Specialized Physical Therapy we are all Doctors of Physical Therapy who have made the commitment to providing the highest quality care possible. We have spent endless hours studying and reviewing research articles, going to conferences and sitting up at night looking for answers to your questions. We are confident in our skills and abilities and believe that we are more than capable of taking on the responsibility of seeing you direct access. We also work closely with your physician to ensure optimal communication and effective delivery of care. New Jersey Direct Access Provisions/State Law The physical therapist shall refer patient to a health care professional licensed in New Jersey for the following reasons: If the PT has reason to believe that services outside of physical therapy are needed, Patient has failed to show reasonable progress within 30 days of initial treatment At 30 days from initial evaluation, the PT shall inform the patient’s licensed health care provider regarding the patient’s plan of care. If one does not exist, the PT shall recommend the patient consult with a licensed health care provider. *Some insurance plans may still require you to consult a physician first, in order to be reimbursed for the services, so please check with your insurance provider as plans differ.
ankle pain physical therapy new jersey, pt near me, what is direct access, direct access pt, one call care physical therapy, direct access law, direct access healthcare, direct access pt states, new jersey physical therapy board, direct access physical therapy states, pt direct, physical therapy systems review, direct pt, physical therapy direct access states, who can refer to physical therapy, what is direct access health care, states with direct access to physical therapy, how long are physical therapy orders good for, direct access phone number, direct physical therapy, direct access md, professional pt, should you see a doctor or physical therapist first, physical therapy direct access, direct access physical therapy nj, nj physical therapy license, direct access legislation, direct access physical therapy california, personal physical therapist, direct access physical therapy new york, pt direct access, do you call a physical therapist a doctor, direct access to medical care, do you need a script for physical therapy, physical therapists near me, direct access medical, physical therapy schools in new jersey, do i need a script for physical therapy, physical therapy direct access by state, direct access physical therapy, what is direct access in physical therapy, one call physical therapy, specialized.pt, independent physical therapist, new jersey board of physical therapy, access health physical therapy, direct access to physical therapy, direct access physical therapy new jersey, direct access in physical therapy, direct access marketing services, direct access physical therapy georgia, physical therapist prescribe medication, who can prescribe physical therapy, what does direct access mean in physical therapy, direct access and recovery, physical therapist schools in nj, is a physical therapist a physician, apta direct access, physical therapy communication with patients, what is direct access physical therapy, specialized pt, access direct, hot topics in physical therapy research, access ptw, can a physical therapist prescribe pain medication, physical therapy orders, therapy direct, systems review physical therapy, can physical therapists prescribe medication, can physical therapist prescribe medicine, are physical therapists physicians, go direct access, top physical therapist near me, direct access therapy, is a physical therapist considered a specialist, can you go straight to a physical therapist, physical therapist near me, can a physical therapist prescribe medication, pt direct access states, access physical therapy llc, direct acces, access pt, direct access physical therapy texas, physical therapy problems, home pt near me, acess direct, physical therapy issues, physician directed physical therapy, ankle physical therapy new jersey, can a physical therapist prescribe medicine, physical therapist open on weekends, one call physical therapy provider phone number, pt places, can a primary care doctor prescribe physical therapy, pt no doctor appointment, direct access insurance, physical therapy order, can a physical therapist treat more than one patient at a time, physical therapy pennsville nj, physiotherapist near me, physio therapy near me, what states have direct access for physical therapy, pt schools in nj, can i go directly to physiotherapy, specialized physical therapy, physiotherapy, patient pt, dpt llc, nj board of physical therapy, direct access physical therapy near me, physical therapy license nj, direct access for physical therapy, sports therapist, dpt, physical therapy schools in nj, physiotherapy near me, therapy means what, specialized massage, directacess, direct acess, direct access law for physical therapy, specialized access, new jersey physical therapy license, physicsl therapist near me, is a physical therapist a specialist, direct therapy, hot physical therapist, direct-access, how to become a physical therapist in nj, nj physical therapy board, physical therapy prescription example, is physical therapy a specialist visit, physical therapy not helping, direct access patient, how long is a physical therapy prescription good for in nj, pt consult, pt places near me, late night physical therapy, can physical therapist prescribe medication, hot topic cherry hill, pt office, specialized therapist, physical therapy direct access laws by state, how long is a physical therapy prescription good for, physical therapist school near me, acess pt, best pt near me, direct access states for physical therapy, can physical therapists prescribe medicine, one call physical therapy phone number, bpt therapist, does north carolina have direct access physical therapy, how many states have direct access to physical therapy, benefits of direct access physical therapy, best physical therapist near me, can a doctor of physical therapy prescribe medication, therapy access, physical therapy near me, direct access number, dpt., what happens when a patient goes to physical therapy without a referral, specialty therapy treatment in nj, gspp cherry hill, can physical therapists prescribe, pt specialist, in home physical therapy near me, dirrect access, direct access physiotherapy, how much do physical therapists make in nj, physical therapy script, how do you address a physical therapist, specialized physical therapy burlington nj, specialized therapies, what does it mean to have direct access to a pt, direct pay physical therapy
