At this time in 2020, we are experiencing a global pandemic that is affecting everyone worldwide. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has rolled out guidelines to help people stay safe as we slowly begin to reopen the country. As we begin to navigate a world where our normal is to wear masks and stay six feet apart, things that were once considered routine, like going to the grocery store or visiting your doctor, have become much more intimidating. Now more than ever, you can benefit from direct access during the quarantine to get the care you need.
No matter what circumstance we find ourselves in as a community, taking care of our body is always a priority. Now with the ability to take recovery and pain management into your own hands through direct access, patients can utilize the in-home and virtual physical therapy services that are available. Our injuries do not recover, and our pain does not subside because we are in quarantine. The good news is that we are here to help!
Due to the advent of this global pandemic that we’re now all living in, healthcare providers and professionals have had to adapt their ability to care for patients in this trying time. At Results, our goal is to always provide physical therapy services to our patients, no matter the obstacles that might present themselves. During this global pandemic, direct access has given more patients the ability to directly connect with qualified physical therapists to get the care they need.
Direct access gives more power to patients than ever before, so patients can directly connect with their physical therapist without having to get a referral or navigate other potential barriers to get to a physical therapy appointment. It is completely understandable that patients are doing all they can to avoid getting the virus during this difficult time, which includes making excuses to avoid some of the germs that can pop up in a doctor’s office from time to time.
With direct access, patients no longer need to worry about catching the virus by going to their primary care provider for a referral, and in many states can just book an appointment with a physical therapist directly. With no guarantee as to when the pandemic might subside, direct access is one of the surefire ways of connecting with a physical therapist to get the care and attention you need for PT needs.
Depending on which state you live in, direct access is the ability for individuals to access physical therapy care without the referral from a physician. Direct access allows patients to avoid costly and unnecessary doctor’s visits and receive care faster.
There are three tiers to direct access that varies from state to state: limited patient access, patient access with provisions and unrestricted patient access.
Which tier of direct access does your state abide by? Check out our Direct Access Blog here for more information.
Depending on what your state offers and abides by, your ability to seek out and connect with physical therapists directly might be impacted or be limited.
If you’re unfamiliar with direct access, you might be confused as to exactly what it is and how it could potentially benefit you in the future and during the current quarantine. Direct access provides plenty of benefits that you can immediately use and take advantage of, as more states look to increasingly provide ways for patients to connect with physical therapists directly. Some of the most impactful ways that direct access can help you now include:
One of the best benefits associated with direct access is that patients don’t need to risk their health if they don’t want to. In other words, patients don’t need to visit or attend doctor’s visits where sick patients might be and potentially risk getting it themselves. In some cases, all it takes is being in the proximity of a sick patient or touching a contaminated surface, and direct access means that patients don’t need to be exposed to this risk.
In addition, one of the biggest hurdles with getting any referral for outside care is that it can take days or even weeks for a referral from your primary care provider. Some physicians would like to see patients and assess their symptoms or ailments before actually recommending them to physical therapy or other services. Unfortunately, trying to align your schedule with a physician’s openings can be quite difficult and they might be booked in advance for weeks or longer depending on their routine and number of patients.
This means that patients could be living with pain and decreased mobility for longer than they should have to because of something that isn’t in their control. With direct access, patients no longer have to try and book an appointment to see a physical therapist or receive a referral, because they can connect directly with a physical therapist when needed.
Not having to visit a doctor and pay for some copays or doctor visits when you’re trying to get a referral means that you’re saving money in the long run. Even things like a simple doctor’s visit can add up in cost when you’re visiting just to get a referral. Saving money is always a big benefit when you’re trying to get the care you need.
Another benefit in how direct access can help during quarantine is that you don’t need to stress out about when you can actually get the care you need. Due to the increased number of visits from patients who are potentially sick during the pandemic, the timeline for you getting a referral or even a simple doctor’s visit could be extended more than the usual time it could take. This means that you’re prolonging your physical therapy visit and living with pain or decreased mobility for even longer periods of time. With direct access, you no longer have to worry about this as you can get access to care much quicker. Getting access to care quicker means that you and your physical therapist can address what concerns you might have, identify the trouble spots through a comprehensive patient evaluation, and begin to get you on the pathway to recovery through a comprehensive and personalized treatment program.
Calling the doctor’s office and playing phone tag to book an appointment, driving to and from doctor appointments to get a referral, and then booking an appointment with a local physical therapist can be a hassle and an inconvenience. With direct access, you no longer have to worry about these hassles and can take multiple steps out of the process. Instead, you can directly connect with your physical therapist and book an appointment immediately if your state offers direct access.
Essentially, direct access is putting the power back into the hands of patients who are looking to take control of their bodies and seek out the necessary physical therapy care they need. Direct access is cutting time, costs, and headaches over receiving care when you need it most.
If you’ve experienced pain or decreased mobility due to an injury, disease, or surgery, don’t wait to get physical therapy help. Your physical therapists are there to help rehabilitate your body, assess lack of mobility areas, and develop a personalized exercise treatment plan to get you back to living pain-free.
Our number one priority is the safety of our patients and physical therapists, which is why we are now offering telehealth virtual therapy as well as in-home one-on-one physical therapy. Our physical therapists are dedicated to providing our patients with in-depth high-quality care whether we see you in our clinic, virtually or in your home.
We understand that some patients feel more comfortable staying home and receiving virtual care on their mobile, tablet, or desktop device. Our virtual therapy provides one-to-one care from a licensed physical therapist from wherever you choose! Our friendly team at Results are able to demonstrate exercises, access range of motion, and educate you about your body functionality to keep your injury-free.
Our concierge in-home physical therapy provides each of our patients with easy access and continuity of care in the comfort of their own home. Our therapists will arrive at your home utilizing all of the necessary safety equipment recommended by the CDC to ensure the safety of both the patient and therapist during visits. Our therapists build personal relationships with each of their individual clients and continue to work together one-on-one to develop personalized exercise treatments virtually or in your home.
At this time, it’s incredibly important that we keep our community safe by social distancing and take good care of ourselves and others. We are all in this together and we will continue to provide excellent care to support our communities across the United States. Contact a Results Physiotherapy clinic near you to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to getting you on the road to recovery!
