Direct Access
According to the Illinois Physical Therapy Practice Act, Sec 1.2, patients may now be evaluated and treated by a physical therapist without a referral or prescription from a physician.
Benefits you gain
- Quicker access to services: You, your friend, or family member can receive and benefit from physical therapy care as soon as a problem arises. You do not need to first visit your doctor.
- Improved outcomes: Early intervention physical therapy improves patient outcomes by not delaying treatments. The sooner treatment can begin, the less complex the problem becomes.
- Reduced health care costs: Mike Riley, president of the Illinois Physical Therapy Association reports, “Studies across the country have shown that direct access to physical therapy is extremely cost-effective, reducing total health care costs by as much as 30 percent and, in some cases, reducing patients’ out-of-pocket costs by as much as 80 percent.”
- Therapist-physician interaction: Under the new Illinois legislation, physical therapists must notify your primary care physician or treating healthcare professional within 5 business days that you are receiving physical therapy services. Communication between your therapist and doctor is important so that you receive the comprehensive care you need as you are recover. Symmetry Physical Therapy has always maintained close communications with patients’ healthcare professionals and will continue to do so.
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Maintenance Visits
Symmetry Physical Therapy offers Maintenance Visits to patients who have “graduated” from Symmetry treatment for a particular diagnosis. A maintenance visit is a 30 minute one-on-one session between you and a therapist. While this visit is not covered by insurance, it gives you an opportunity to receive education, an exercise review, and perhaps hands-on treatment or dry needling to make sure you are continuing on your path of recovery.