| Welcome
to our Patient and Client Q&A section. The purpose this
section is to answer some of the questions you have before you
ask them and to give you an idea of the questions other patients
and clients have asked. However, if you have a question of a
more immediate or personal nature that you want answered before
you arrive for your visit, please call or e-mail us anytime!
(918) 743-9235 - Tulsa, OK
(918) 259-9522 - Broken Arrow, OK
(580) 226-9235 - Ardmore, OK
(918) 683-8555 - Muskogee, OK
(918) 333-4343 Bartlesville, OK
(918) 426-1322 McAlester, OK
(918) 756-6060 Okmulgee, OK
(580) 931-3300 Durant, OK
Email address: info@exceltherapyspecialists.com
- What should I expect on my first visit?
- What type of
therapy program may I receive?
- How long will my visit
last?
- How is my progress measured?
- Will I need follow-up or
maintenance care?
- What if I need to return to physical
therapy?
- Can I ask my doctor about physical therapy?
- Will my insurance
cover physical therapy?
- How do I arrange an appointment?
- What should I wear?
- What should I bring with me?
- Who chooses which physical
therapist I go to?
- Why should I choose physical therapy?
- What office policies
should I be aware of?
- What is my responsiblity in physical
therapy?
- Why choose us?
What should I expect on my first visit?
On your first visit, your physical therapist will perform
an examination/evaluation to determine what deficits and/or
problems you have that can be addressed in physical therapy.
The examination/evaluation involves a thorough injury history
and tests and measures that allow the physical therapist
to get a more specific understanding of your condition. Your
physical therapist will make a clinical judgement as to your
diagnosis and prognosis. A treatment program will be developed
aimed at resolving the problems identified as well as to
attain the goals you set in conjunction with the physical
therapist.
What type of therapy program may I receive?
The therapy program you receive will depend on what the
physical therapist finds in the examination/evaluation. Our
programs include coordination among all people involved in
your care (other health care professionals, family, friends,
caregivers, and others), communication to ensure a good exchange
of information, thorough documentation of the care and services
provided, and instruction to you and others involved in your
care to promote and optimize our services. Most physical
therapy plans of care will include three categories: therapeutic
exercise, functional training in self-care and home management,
and functional training in work or school, community, and
leisure environments. Other programs might include manual
therapy techniques; use of equipment such as supports, orthotics,
or prosthetics; skin repair and protection techniques; electrotherapeutic
modalities; and mechanical modalities.
How long will my visit last?
Visit times will vary according to what the physical therapist
finds in the evaluation. There is no specific time limit
for physical therapy. Whatever is found to be appropriate
during the examination/evaluation will become part of the
patient's or or client's program and the program will be
updated as appropriate. Typically most therapy visits range
between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours.
How is my progress measured?
Because your physical therapist will perform a meticulous
examination/evaluation, quantifying and qualifying all the
deficits and problems you are presenting with, examination/evaluation
to determine progress are possible. You will be re-examined
based your diagnosis as well as the severity of the problem.
Additionally, the physical therapist always needs to be aware
of follow-up visits with your physician as a re-examination
may be performed so that the physician can be updated at
that time.
Will I need follow-up or maintenance care?
The answer depends entirely on the physical therapist's
examination/evaluation to determine your diagnosis and prognosis.
What if I need to return to physical therapy?
If you have a recurrent problem after your discharge from
physical therapy, how and if you will return to physical
therapy will depend on a number of factors. It would depend
if it was a re-injury of the same specific problem, how long
it has been since you were last in physical therapy, how
long it's been since you saw the physician (if a physician
referred you), and many other factors. In general, if you
are discharged from physical therapy and feel the need to
return, you should contact the physical therapist who treated
you. He or she will review your chart, discuss your new developments
with your physician and call back to talk with you about
what should be done, depending on the problem you are having.
Can I ask my doctor about physical therapy?
Absolutely! If you have a problem that you think can be
helped with physical therapy, feel free to give us a call.
After discussing with you the specific problem you present
with, we can give you a better idea if it is something that
is manageable with physical therapy. You can also give your
doctor a call. If he or she is not sure, he or she is welcome
to contact us as well. In today's healthcare, if you feel
physical therapy can be helpful to you, you will need to
stress your feelings to the doctor you are seeing. You must
have a prescription or a referral from your physician/nurse
case manager to attend physical therapy.
Will my insurance cover physical therapy?
Although most insurance companies do cover physical therapy,
what they cover specifically varies greatly. Please review
our billing and insurance participation section on this website,
and if you have additional questions regarding your specific
insurance give us a call. Our billing office is located at
the Broken Arrow, OK clinic and can be reached at (918) 259-9522
or toll free (877) 259-9520.
How do I arrange an appointment?
If your physician gives you a referral to physical therapy,
simply call our office for an appointment. Our clinic hours
and locations are explained on the location and hours page
of this website. Our office staff will get all the necessary
information from you and assist you with an appointment.
What should I wear?
In general, wear comfortable clothing to physical therapy.
If you are presenting with a problem of your cervical spine,
upper back or shoulders, the therapist can provide you with
a gown or if you prefer, please or wear a loose fitting shirt
which may be needed to expose these areas. If you are coming
for a lower-extremity problem, shorts or gym pants are important.
You can bring clothing with you if you need to change at
the clinic.
What should I bring with me?
For your first visit you will need your insurance card,
a photo ID and any paperwork that your physician asked you
to take with you to physical therapy. To save you time on
your initial visit, you may want to print out the Patient
Data Intake Form and the Patient Medical History Form from
this website under the "PATIENT" button at the
top of the page. Please fill them out and bring them with
you. Additionally, if you are utilizing any type of brace,
splint, or crutches, those should come with you.
Who chooses which physical therapist I go to?
Oftentimes, your physician will recommend particular physical
therapist or a clinic in your area. Sometimes your insurance
company will guide you with regard to who is "in network" for
your insurance plan. Ultimately, however, the decision as
to where you receive your care is up to you. If you have
a specific request, let your physician or insurance company
know. If we are not in network for your insurance company
most plans have out-of-network benefits that will allow you
your choice in physical therapy. Call us to work out the
details. We are happy to call and get your insurance benefits
prior to your arrival.
Why should I choose physical therapy?
In physical therapy, the goals should be to resolve your
problem, not just temporarily relieve it. Although medication
and other forms of treatment can be helpful in relieving
symptoms, physical therapy produces a long term result. The
physician may opt to utilize medication in conjunction with
physical therapy depending on your diagnosis. Additionally,
physical therapy unlike some other forms of treatment, is
not designed to go on as a maintenance program. Because we
look to resolution, maintenance is not generally necessary.
During your physical therapy, you will be taught injury prevention
and excercises to continue to keep you healthy.
What office policies should I be aware of?
We ask the following of our patients and clients:
* If you have to reschedule an appointment, please give
us plenty of notice so that we may offer your appointment
time to another patient.
* Missed appointments are going to happen, but if we are able to see you later
the same day we will make every effort to do so. If not, simply reschedule
with the receptionist so that you will receive your correct number of physician
prescribed treatment visits.
* If you will be late, please be courteous of our time and call to let us know.
* Before returning to your physician let your therapist know the appointment
time and date so that he can be certain the doctor has your progress information
prior to your arrival at his office.
* Co-payments are due at the time of service unless arrangements are made with
the receptionist to pay weekly.
What is my responsiblity in physical therapy?
You are our partner in your recovery. Your physical therapist
cannot do it without you! We ask that all patients and clients
cooperate by following through with their home exercise programs
and instructions, as this is extremely important in expediting
your recovery.
Why choose us?
Because of our expertise. We are widely regarded and respected
as leading experts in physical therapy. Physicians regularly
send their own office staff and family members to our facility.
We are dedicated to resolving your problems in an environment
that is welcoming and relaxed. Patients receive personalized
care, not an assembly line atmosphere. If you are still not
sure, feel free to give us a call and stop in to speak to
one of our therapists.
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