Posted by Bud Ward on Fri, Aug 22, 2008 @ 10:36 PM
Choosing a Physical Therapist
Information You Need When Selecting a Physical Therapist
You are the most important member of your own health care team and
are entitled to choose the most appropriate health care professional to
meet your goals. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has
provided the following guidelines for choosing a physical therapist for
your care.
1. Freedom of Choice
You have the freedom to choose your own physical therapist. Most
states allow you to go directly to a physical therapist without a
physician's referral first. Click
here to see if your state allows you to see a physical therapist
directly.
Keep in mind that your insurance policy may require a visit to the
primary care physician first or limit your access to only preferred
providers.
Your physician may refer you for physical therapy that is to be
provided in his or her office or to a facility in which he or she has a
financial interest. If either situation is the case, insist that
your physical therapy be provided by a licensed physical
therapist.
Physical therapists who are members of APTA are bound by the
Association's Code
of Ethics and are especially committed to providing competent and
compassionate care.
2. How To Choose A Physical Therapist
Make sure that you receive physical therapy from a licensed
physical therapist. Physical therapists are professional health care
providers who are licensed by the state in which they practice. If you
are receiving physical therapy from a physical therapist assistant, be
sure that he or she is supervised by a licensed physical therapist.
Ask the physical therapy clinic if they participate with your
insurance company and/or will they submit claims on your behalf to your
insurance company. Some policies require co-payments for services
and the co-payment will be dependent on if the physical therapist is
part of the insurer's provider network. You will also have to meet your
deductible.
3. Your Appointment
Your first visit should include an evaluation by the physical
therapist. Your physical therapist will perform an examination to
identify current and potential problems. Based on the results of the
examination, and considering your specific goals, your physical
therapist will design a plan of care to include specific interventions
and will propose a timetable to achieve these goals and optimize your
function. Your physical therapist will likely provide you with
instructions to perform exercises at home to facilitate your
recovery.
You should feel comfortable asking your physical therapist any
questions regarding your course of care, including specifics regarding
interventions and expectations.
More About Physical Therapists
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose
and treat people of all ages who have medical problems or other
health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform
functional activities in their daily lives.
PTs must have a graduate degree from an accredited physical therapy
program before taking the national licensure examination. The minimum
educational requirement is a master's degree, yet most educational
programs now offer the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree.
Physical therapists practice in hospitals, private practices,
outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing
facilities, homes, education or research centers, schools, hospices,
corporate or industrial health centers, athletic facilities, and other
settings.
Posted by Bud Ward on Mon, Aug 18, 2008 @ 09:05 PM
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines determination as a "firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end." Over the weekend, we saw an excellent example of determination as Michael Phelps completed his quest for eight gold medals in this summer's Olympic Games. He set his goals, worked hard, stayed focused, and achieved the goals.
In sports, we often see such great displays of determination. However, there are many daily examples that we might overlook. As a father, I have watched my son show incredible determination to overcome many challenges. He was born with Down Syndrome and his primary challenge has been gross motor skills (crawling, walking, running, etc). He learned to walk at age 3 and soon after tried to run. Of course, he fell quite often in the early stages, but he was determined and never gave up. Now, he can throw a football, kick a soccer ball, or throw a round ball with ease. He can even hit a wiffle ball when pitched to him. In fact, he is a more consistent hitter than many professional baseball players - of course, I don't pitch 100mph fastballs.
As a physical therapist, I have seen outstanding examples of determination from my patients. Many of them have overcome significant impairments and functional limitations to improve their quality of life.
Some examples include:
- A 73 year old runner who became deconditioned when she stop training to take care of a family member who was ill. In relatively short time, she worked hard to regain her strength and her ability to race. The result: successful completion of a 5 mile race.
- An 85 year old overcame a sprained ankle to be able to return to dancing. The result: successful return to her line dancing class.
- A man who lost his lower leg in a motorcycle accident, worked very hard to return to riding. The result: 8 months after his amputation, he was riding a motorcycle again.
Whether you're an elite athlete or an average person, you can achieve your goals if you have determination.