Click on a question to get an answer:
1. What is physical therapy?
2. Why should I choose physical therapy?
3. Do I need a prescription or referral from my primary physician to be seen for physical therapy?
4. Who chooses which physical therapist I go to?
5. How do I arrange an appointment?
6. What should I expect on my first visit?
7. What should I wear?
8. What should I bring with me?
9. How long will my visit last?
10. Do you provide homecare?
11. Is your facility multi-lingual?
12. What is your cancellation policy?
13. What types of treatment may I receive?
14. When is the best time to start physical therapy?
15. Will my insurance cover physical therapy?
16. Is there parking?
What is physical therapy?
Most of you may already know the benefits of physical therapy. There are many times when I get comments like "I know a great physical therapist that helped me recover from my stroke" or "My physical therapist helped me walk again" . However, there are still many people who have heard of the term physical therapy but are not exactly sure what we do. I still get many responses such as, "Aren't you the guys who are supposed to give me a massage?" or, "Aren't you the guys that put the hot packs and cold packs on people?"
Let me just clarify what a physical therapist can do for you.
A physical therapist is a professional who is dedicated to the treatment of individuals with regards to function, movement, wellness, and health. That seems very vague, but physical therapists are found in a wide array of settings, from hospitals, to nursing homes, to outpatient clinics, and in school settings. Physical therapists address the functional loss of a person, and try to help rehabilitate them back to their former level of function. This is mainly done through the use of exercises, modalities (hot packs, cold packs, ultrasound, electric stim), and manual therapy. The role of a physical therapist not only encompasses treating injuries and disability, but also in the prevention of injuries and disability. This is a list, taken from PT magazine, of the more common reasons why someone may need to seek a physical therapist:
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder, arm, wrist, or hand problems
- Knee, ankle, or foot problems
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sprains and muscle strains
- Arthritis
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation after a serious injury
- Chronic respiratory problems
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Problems with balance
- Disabilities in newborns
- Pre-/ postnatal programs
- Fractures
- Incontinence
- Fitness and wellness education
For more information regarding our services, click here
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Why should I choose physical therapy?
The physical therapist is a professional that is responsible for the wellness of individuals with functional disabilities. They can treat a variety of ailments and even work in very niche settings such as work injury prevention, ergonomics and fitness. It is important to understand that physical therapists now play an important role in the lives of many individuals with regards to movement, function, wellness and health.
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Do I need a prescription or referral from my primary physician to be seen for physical therapy?
New Jersey operates under a direct access law, where prescriptions and referrals are not needed from a primary physician in order to schedule a physical therapy consult for patients with commercial insurances (i.e. Aetna, BC/BS, Medicare, etc). Direct access means timely, and thus more effective, physical therapy services for the patient. Prescriptions are only required for Workers’ Compensation and Auto Accident cases.
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Who chooses which physical therapist I go to?
Patients have the right to choose whichever physical therapy facility they would like. Most patients choose physical therapy facilities based on a number of reasons, including the distance from the patient's residence, quality of service, or word of mouth from past patients. As with other health professionals, physical therapists can be easily found either through the phone book, through your insurance company or by the recommendation of family and friends . Some patients choose facilities based on doctor recommendations. However, in the end, the patient should choose any facility that makes them comfortable.
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How do I arrange an appointment?
Appointments can be made over the phone. If you reach our voice mail when calling, please leave your name and a phone number where we can reach you and we will call you back to schedule your appointment. You can also visit our facility to make your appointment in person.
For patients making appointments for auto accident or workers compensation cases, we need the following information before we can schedule you for an appointment:
- name of the insurance covering your physical therapy
- a case claim number
- the adjuster's name
- the adjuster's phone number and fax (if possible)
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What should I expect on my first visit?
You should expect to be evaluated and treated on your first visit. For your evaluation, patients should be prepared to answer questions regarding their present and past medical history. For treatment, patients should be prepared to perform a number of exercises that may be prescribed for you.
Patients are also advised to come to their first appointment approximately 15 minutes early to take care of any administrative problems and fill out any paperwork.
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What should I wear?
You should come to your appointment wearing comfortable clothing that will allow you to perform the various gym exercises associated with your treatment program. Patients normally wear sweat pants and jogging pants along with sneakers or walking shoes when coming for their physical therapy sessions.
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What should I bring with me?
For the first appointment, you should make sure to have the following items:
- a prescription from the doctor dated within 2 weeks that contains a diagnosis and a recommended duration for treatment
- referral from your primary doctor (if required by your insurance company)
- your medical insurance card
If your physical therapy sessions will be covered by an auto insurance due to injuries sustained in an auto accident please be sure to also bring:
- your drivers' license
- your auto insurance card
- a copy of the accident report
- the case claim number
- the adjuster's name that is handling your case
- the adjuster's phone number and fax number (if possible)
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How long will my visit last?
The initial appointment & evaluation will last approximately 1 - 1 ½ hours. Follow-up visits usually last approximately ½ -1 hour, depending on your prescribed treatment program.
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Do you provide homecare?
We do provide homecare for physical therapy Medicare patients and live in the immediate Elizabeth/Hillside/Union area for the Elizabeth clinic, and the immediate Jersey City/Hoboken area for the Jersey City clinic. However, our ability to provide homecare varies, as we are only able to provide homecare if a therapist is available. Please make sure to call either of our clinics to inquire if we are able to provide homecare at that time.
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Is your facility multi-lingual?
Our facility has one Spanish speaking therapist available.
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What is your cancellation policy?
We would prefer that patients cancel at least 12-24 hours in advance. However, we do realize that emergencies can occur, and that you may have to cancel at the last minute. We just request that you please call to cancel your appointment if you are unable to attend.
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What types of treatment may I receive?
Depending on your condition and the orders prescribed by your doctor, you may be exposed to many different types of gym exercises, modalities, manual therapy during your physical therapy sessions. For more information on our services, click here.
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When is the best time to start physical therapy?
We recommend that you begin your physical therapy as soon as your doctor gives you a prescription. Prolonging the start of your therapy could result in a worsening of your condition.
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Will my insurance cover physical therapy?
All medical insurances should provide coverage for your physical therapy. If you are not sure what your physical therapy benefits are, we can contact your insurance company for you. To see our list of accepted insurances, click here. You may also clarify your benefits with your insurance company.
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Is there parking?
Parking is available at the Elizabeth clinic in the rear of the building premises. Unfortunately, we do not have a parking facility at the Jersey City clinic. There is ample street parking space available for patients at the Jersey City clinic.
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