Desert Springs Physical Therapy - Silver City, NM

Physical therapists are professional health care providers who are licensed by the state in which they practice. You can check with your state agency overseeing physical therapy licensure to make sure that your physical therapist is licensed and in good standing. You can also contact the state Physical Therapy Chapter.

Specialization

Many physical therapists specialize in treating specific areas of the body, such as the back, neck, knee, hand, or shoulder, or they may concentrate their practice on pre- and postnatal care, sports injuries, stroke rehabilitation, or one of many other areas or physical therapy. Physical therapists may also be certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) in seven specialty areas of physical therapy: orthopedics, sports, geriatrics, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary, neurology, and clinical electrophysiology.

Freedom of Choice

While some states require a referral from a physician before you can receive physical therapy, the majority of states (39 to date) do not require a physician referral. You always have the freedom to choose your own physical therapist. Although a physician may refer you to a physical therapy facility in which the physician has a financial interest, you are entitled to seek treatment from the physical therapist of your choice.

Insurance

Most insurance policies cover physical therapy services when provided by a physical therapist. Ask the person providing your care if they are in fact a physical therapist, or a physical therapist assistant being supervised by a physical therapist. Physical therapists who are members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) pledge to comply with the Association’s Code of Ethics and Guide for Professional Conduct. APTA members maintain and promote high standards in the provision of physical therapy services.

An article titled “Understanding Insurance Coverage,” appeared in PT - Magazine of Physical Therapy, October 1999. Copies of the article are available by calling 800/999-2782, ext 8511, or by sending the request via e-mail.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 pm and is filed under Physical Therapy, Silver City.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.