Navigating the current healthcare system can be challenging. With so many options for treatment, it can be hard to know where to look for solutions for your injury. You want a provider who specializes in your specific injury and can get you the outcome without wasting significant time and money in the process. As a physical therapist who has worked for 5 different healthcare companies over 13 years, I’ve (Phillip, PT at Mitchell Holistic health) had the unique experience of seeing the ins and outs of physical therapy and have learned valuable lessons along the way.
In this blog, I want to share practical advice on how to find the right physical therapist based on my experiences in the physical therapy field. Here are four quick tips I have to help you find the right physical therapist for your injury.
1: Research your options
One of the great things about the internet is the amount of information available to the consumer when looking for the right physical therapist. Also, talking to current and past patients about their experience with a particular clinic or physical therapist can give you a firsthand look at the quality of care a certain clinic provides. Social media accounts are also another way of learning more about a business and the injuries they specialize in treating.
2: Learn about your insurance coverage
Yes, I know it can be a headache to get information about all the details of your health insurance coverage, but it is well worth your time. Over the years, I’ve learned that some people don’t understand the costs of a physical therapy appointment, especially when they have a high deductible and are paying the full physical therapy charge, not the negotiated rate the insurance company pays the hospital.
For example, if someone has a $5,000 deductible, they could be paying upwards of $350 to $550 for a SINGLE physical therapy appointment until they hit their deductible. As many of you have noticed by now, it seems like deductibles are going up each year and makes using the insurance model an expensive option at times.
Because of the increasing costs of healthcare, you are seeing many cash-based healthcare clinics, like ours, open up around the country. As a consumer and healthcare practitioner, I have seen that cash-based healthcare provides a higher quality of service at an affordable price. For many people with large deductibles who rarely use their insurance, I feel confident saying that going the cash-pay route would be more affordable without the red tape and headaches that can come with insurance-based models.
3: Schedule a discovery call
Once you have done your research and learned about the options available to you, set up a time to call the clinic you’re looking at going to and ask questions. The main goal of this call is to make sure the physical therapist understands your problem and has experience treating similar conditions.
Not all physical therapists have the same training and most physical therapists like to specialize in treating specific injuries (general ortho, sports, women’s health, spinal specialist, etc..), so it is a good idea to ask if your type of injury is something they regularly treat. Additionally, I would ask if they offer treatment approaches or ancillary services (PEMF, nutrition, massage) that differ from other physical therapy clinics in town.
For example, we offer PEMF, joint health supplements, and frequency medicine that other clinics in town don’t offer, and we believe these unique treatment offerings allow us to offer a better whole-person approach that produces great patient outcomes. Another benefit of scheduling a discovery call is to discuss rates and payment methods so you can have all the information available to make the best-informed decision.
4: Set-up Physical Therapy Evaluation
Now that you’ve decided on the right physical therapy clinic, it is time to schedule your initial evaluation. During this appointment, you’ll have the opportunity to ask more in-depth questions about experience and treatment approaches and hopefully leave the visit feeling confident the physical therapist has the solution to your problem. Before leaving, make sure all your questions are answered to your satisfaction. As a patient, you should leave your initial evaluation with a clear understanding of your problem and know how much physical therapy may be needed to get the outcome you desire. After you have all this information, you can decide if moving forward with the physical therapist is best for you.
Hopefully, you’re now feeling more equipped to find the right physical therapist. I’ve found that thorough research through Google reviews and social media, learning more about your insurance coverage, asking questions about treatment approaches and qualifications through a discovery call, and setting up a physical therapy evaluation will help people find the right physical therapist for their injury or condition. If you’re reading this because you are looking for physical therapy services, our clinic would love the opportunity to hop on a discovery call and determine if we would be a good fit for your specific injury or condition. Click below to set up a discovery call!