PHYSICAL THERAPY FAQ
There’s no such thing as a stupid question.
Am I eligible for physical therapy?
What types of treatment may I receive?
Do I have to see a doctor first?
Why do I have to come in a half hour early for my first appointment?
Will I see the same physical therapist each time?
How will you communicate with my physician?
Is it okay to ask my doctor about physical therapy?
What training do physical therapists have?
What office policies should I be aware of?
Why choose Mettler Physical Therapy?
Will my insurance cover physical therapy?
Am I eligible
for physical therapy?
Anyone is eligible for physical therapy—it’s just a matter of working
out the financial compensation options. We accept private insurance, private
payments, Medicare, and student insurance. If physical therapy would not be
an appropriate or necessary solution for you, we will likely determine this
early on and refer you to the appropriate health care provider.
What types
of treatment may I receive?
You will receive modalities as needed (ultrasound, electrical stimulation, infrared,
and forms of these), joint mobilization, a specialized manual therapy technique
with MRT®, therapeutic exercise in many forms and progressions,
structured home exercise plans, and/or client education. These also encompass
intervention. All of our treatment sessions are individually tailored to each
client, so it’s difficult to create a “standard” treatment
list.
Do I have
to see a doctor first?
The state of Illinois is currently a “limited direct access” state,
which means that we can evaluate you without a referral, but we might not be
able to treat you without one. Insurance companies differ regarding doctor referrals;
if you have been treated for the same condition within the last six months,
treatment is often approved by an insurance provider. Medicare specifically
requires a doctor’s referral before treatment can begin.
How long will
my visits last?
Your visit with one of our physical therapists will vary from 30 to 60 minutes.
Why do I have to come in a half hour early for my first appointment?
Because no two injuries are alike, we ask a lot of questions regarding the injury itself and your recovery goals. By learning about your injury (though questionnaires) our physical therapists can better prepare for your initial appointment.
Will I see
the same physical therapist each time?
We make every concession to have you see the same physical therapist each time.
On the rare occasion that this isn’t possible, another one of our trained
physical therapists will cover your appointment(s) as needed, until your primary
therapist’s schedule opens up. Less than 10% of our clients see more than
one physical therapist for their treatments.
How will you
communicate with my physician?
After an initial evaluation, the physical therapist will write a note to send
to your doctor regarding the findings, rehab potential, and plan of care. Prior
to each doctor follow-up visit, we will send a progress note with updates and
recommendations, regarding your plan of care. These progress notes are sent
every four weeks as needed. We will also make phone calls, write emails, or
send faxes as necessary to communicate all the needs in your best interests.
Is it okay
to ask my doctor about physical therapy?
If you have an injury that you think may benefit from physical therapy, we encourage
you to ask your doctor about it. Physical therapy can be a great way to manage
painful orthopedic conditions in conjunction with other treatments your
doctor can recommend.
What training
do physical therapists have?
All physical therapists at Mettler have intensive training in anatomy, physiology,
pathology, biomechanics, gait training, and functional mobility, with half of
the physical therapists having Masters degrees. All physical therapists have
had clinical education time in school prior to professional practice, to ensure
they can operate as “generalists,” if needed. Our physical therapists
are trained in MRT® and practice clinical skills with other therapy
staff members weekly.
What should
I wear?
Wear comfortable clothes. If you have a problem with your lower back or below
it, bringing a pair of shorts is helpful. For women who have problems with their
back (and any area above), a sports bra would be useful. If you forget to bring
necessary clothing, or if acquiring the clothing is an issue, we are happy to
provide shorts, sports bras, and gowns to accommodate and respect your modesty
and privacy.
What should
I bring?
Bring your insurance card, a doctor’s referral (if needed), appropriate
clothing (see above), and any questions you might have. Also, you should bring
any operative reports, diagnostic tests (x-rays, MRI, etc.) or protocols your
physician has given you.
What office
policies should I be aware of?
It’s important to know that Mettler charges a $50 fee to clients who fail
to show up for an appointment without calling ahead. Because of scheduling,
if you are late to an appointment, it might not be possible for you to have
your full session time. But if for some reason, your physical therapist is late,
we will make every effort to allot your full session time.
Why choose
Mettler Physical Therapy?
We recommend Mettler for your physical therapy needs because of all the reasons
mentioned above, as well as the following: Mettler uses private treatment rooms,
we practice our specialized manual therapy technique (MRT®),
and all of our therapists are members of the APTA (American Physical Therapy
Association). Mettler physical therapists have a great reputation, and we are
committed to providing individualized treatments that meet your needs. Physical
therapists at Mettler have access to state-of-the-art facilities and staff, a good relationship with referring doctors,
and we also cultivate a close working relationship with the University healthcare system.
Will my insurance
cover physical therapy?
We accept most non-HMO insurance carriers, but you are still responsible for
obtaining your policy details—knowing what coverage your policy has, and
what remainder (if any) you are expected to pay.