Common Questions for Patients

Who uses Physical Therapy?

Those who benefit most from Physical Therapy are individuals who are in need of restoring injured body parts, increasing flexibility, or building strength. We also help improve posture, which if left uncorrected can cause damaging musculoskeletal conditions. Additionally, we help patients who have undergone surgeries and who are in need of therapy to regain optimal physical functionality.

Physical Therapists help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Physical therapists examine patients’ medical histories and then test and measure the patients’ strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. Next, physical therapists develop plans describing a treatment strategy and its anticipated outcome.

Treatment often includes exercise, especially for patients who have been immobilized or who lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. Physical therapists encourage patients to use their muscles to increase their flexibility and range of motion. More advanced exercises focus on improving strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. The goal is to improve how an individual functions at work and at home.

Physical therapists also use electrical stimulation, hot packs or cold compresses, and ultrasound to relieve pain and reduce swelling. They may use traction or deep-tissue massage to relieve pain and improve circulation and flexibility. Therapists also teach patients to use assistive and adaptive devices, such as crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs. They also may show patients how to do exercises at home to expedite their recovery.

As treatment continues, physical therapists document the patient’s progress, conduct periodic examinations, and modify treatments when necessary

Who uses Occupational Therapy?

Those who benefit most from Occupational Therapy are individuals who want to improve their ability to perform tasks in living and working environments. Occupational therapists use treatments to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills of their patients. The therapist helps clients not only to improve their basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also to compensate for permanent loss of function. The goal is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives.

Occupational therapists help clients to perform all types of activities, from using a computer to caring for daily needs such as dressing, cooking, and eating. Physical exercises may be used to increase strength and dexterity, while other activities may be chosen to improve visual acuity or the ability to discern patterns. For example, a client with short-term memory loss might be encouraged to make lists to aid recall, and a person with coordination problems might be assigned exercises to improve hand-eye coordination.

Patients with permanent disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy, often need special instruction to master certain daily tasks. For these individuals, therapists demonstrate the use of adaptive equipment, including wheelchairs, orthoses, eating aids, and dressing aids. They also design or build special equipment needed at home or at work. They teach clients how to use the equipment to improve communication and control various situations in their environment.

Occupational therapists may work exclusively with individuals in a particular age group or with a particular disability.  Some therapists provide early intervention therapy to infants and toddlers who have, or are at risk of having, developmental delays. Therapies may include facilitating the use of the hands and promoting skills for listening, following directions, social play, dressing, or grooming.

Other occupational therapists work with elderly patients. These therapists help the elderly lead more productive, active, and independent lives through a variety of methods.  Occupational therapists also work with clients to assess their homes for hazards and to identify environmental factors that contribute to falls.

What is the difference between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy? 

Physical Therapy (PT) works in restoring function of the legs, back, neck, and torso along with the shoulder region. PT treatment also helps patients with rehabilitation after accidents and surgery along with wound care. Occupational Therapy (OT) primarily enables people to participate in the activities of everyday life. They use careful analysis of physical, environmental, social, mental, and other factors to identify barriers to occupation. An OT therapist is involved in both cognitive and physical training to assist patients with everyday living. PT and OT both work to help patients with their needs for both physical rehabilitation and general everyday life activities. 

Who benefits from Speech Therapy?

Those who benefit most from Speech Therapy are individuals who have swallowing difficulties.  Speech, language, and swallowing difficulties can result from a variety of causes including stroke, brain injury or deterioration, developmental delays or disorders, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, voice pathology, mental retardation, hearing loss, or emotional problems. Problems can be congenital, developmental, or acquired. Speech-language pathologists use special instruments and qualitative and quantitative assessment methods, including standardized tests, to analyze and diagnose the nature and extent of impairments.

Speech-language pathologists develop an individualized plan of care, tailored to each patient’s needs. For individuals with little or no speech capability, speech-language pathologists may select augmentative or alternative communication methods, including automated devices and sign language, and teach their use. They teach patients how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their oral or written language skills to communicate more effectively. They also teach individuals how to strengthen muscles or use compensatory strategies to swallow without choking or inhaling food or liquid. Speech-language pathologists help patients develop, or recover, reliable communication and swallowing skills so patients can fulfill their educational, vocational, and social roles.

Please bring any records from your previous doctor, a list of your medications, allergies and a list of prior doctors. We also recommend bringing in a list of any questions or concerns you may have. Please make sure that you arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment so that you can provide us the necessary paperwork and insurance information to put you in our system. To save time, you can also print the Intake Forms located on our forms page, and bring them completed to your appointment.

How Does Medicare Define Homebound Status?

The patient is considered homebound if leaving home requires a considerable and taxing effort which may be shown by needing personal assistance or help by an assistive device such as cane or walker,or if the individual has a condition such that leaving his or her home is medically contraindicated. An occasional but infrequent "walks around the block" is allowable. Patient attending the adult day care that is licensed or certified by a State, or accredited to furnish adult day-care services in the State will not disqualify the patient from home health service. An attendance religious services will not disqualify the patient as long as it is deemed infrequent or in short duration. Generally a beneficiary whose absences from the home are not considered infrequent or of short duration will not be considered to be homebound.

Who is the Payor of Home Health Services? 

(1)Medicare (Part B)-The Medicare program covers the elderly, those 65 and over, and individuals who have been disabled for two or more years.

The patient must meet the following four conditions:

    • A doctor must decide that the patient needs skilled care in the home and prescribe or order home care, and
    • Must need at least one of the following services: part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care or physical therapy, speech-language services, and
    • Must be homebound, and
    • Must receive services from a home health agency that is "certified" (or approved) by Medicare.

Medicare does not pay for:

    • 24-hour per day care in the home.
    • Prescription drugs (with a few exceptions — consult your physician).
    • Meals delivered to the home.
    • Homemaker services like cleaning, laundry and shopping.

(2)Medicaid - Medicaid is a state program designed to provide necessary health care to low income citizens. Eligibility to receive services under the program is determined based on financial information, which is periodically reviewed.

(3) Older Americans Act-This program provides services for those 60 years and older who have the greatest financial and social need.

(4)Social Services Block Grant Programs - Each year, states receive federal social services block grants for state-identified service needs.

(5)Veterans Administration - The Veterans Administration will cover Home Health Services for specific groups of individuals. These services, to those Veterans who are at least 50% disabled because of a service-related condition, must be authorized by a doctor.

(6)Worker's Compensation- is a special state program developed under each state's worker's compensation laws to provide payment for health care needs of an employee who has an illness or injury that arose from his employment.

(7)Health Insurance Companies- Many commercial insurance companies include home health benefits as part of their health insurance policies.

(8)Private/Self-Pay - Home health services can be purchased privately by a patient using his or her own funds.

How long will I need therapy?

You will need to attend physical therapy sessions until you and your therapist decide that you have reached your desired level of function or that further therapy would not be beneficial. Often therapy will also be monitored by your physician.

When should I start seeing improvement?

Again that depends on the same factors associated with how long treatment will take. We make a treatment plan for you, which includes follow up and regular maintenance visits to our physical rehab clinic. If at any point you feel like you are not progressing at a satisfactory rate, we will collaborate with you and modify your treatment plan. We will always keep you informed as well about your progress.

Will you keep in contact with my doctor?

After your initial evaluation we will send a copy of the examination to your doctor along with progress notes at regular intervals.

Will I see the same therapist every time?

We will make every attempt to schedule you with the therapist you desire to see. However, there may be times when another physical therapist will treat you to accommodate your schedule. All of our physical therapists are fully-licensed and enjoy delivering high-quality care.

Will my insurance pay for therapy?

Generally, most insurance companies pay for physical and occupational therapy. Some companies only offer limited coverage or do not cover occupational therapy. We recommend that you call the benefit number listed on your insurance card to check on your insurance benefits before you start therapy.

Do I need a physician's referral for therapy?

Most insurance companies will require that you get a physician's referral for physical therapy, which you need to bring on your first appointment. Medicare requires the patient to be seen every 30 days by their physician to continue with therapy.