STORM PHYSICAL THERAPY, WELLNESS, & PEAK PERFORMANCE
When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.
-Haruki Murakami
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Check out the answers to some of my most frequently asked questions below. If there’s something you still need to know or an answer isn’t detailed enough, please get in touch for more information.
WHAT IS YOUR NEW PATIENT PROCEDURE?
You first visit will include a thorough physical examination and a comprehensive review of your current medical condition as well as your medical history.
Your first treatment session will include hands-on-treatment, modalities as deemed appropriate, and a list of exercises with video links to perform at home and/or in your gym.
You therapist will review your diagnosis, injury prevention, and treatment options.
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WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR FIRST VISIT
Before Your First Visit
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Make a list of any questions you have and want to ask your physical therapist.
Write down any symptoms you have been experiencing and for how long. If you have more than one area of symptoms, begin with the one that bothers you the most. Describe whether your pain or symptoms are:
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Better or worse with specific movements, activities, or positions such as sitting or standing.
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More noticeable at certain times of the day.
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Relieved or made worse by resting or a specific task or activity.
Write down key information about your medical history, even if it seems unrelated. For example:
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List all prescribed and over-the-counter medicines you take or have taken within the last month. Don't forget to include any vitamins and supplements you take.
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Make a note of any relevant personal information. Include things that you believe might be linked to your condition, such as:
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Recent stressful events.
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Injuries.
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Incidents or accidents.
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Your home or work environment.
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List any medical conditions of your parents or siblings.
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If you wear glasses or use a hearing aid, take them with you. Tell your physical therapist and clinic staff if you have difficulty seeing or hearing.
Take any lab, imaging, or reports from other health care providers with you that are related to your medical history or current condition.
Bring a list of your doctors and other health care providers. Your physical therapist may discuss their findings and your progress with them. Physical therapists often partner with other health care providers to ensure you get the best possible care.
Wear comfortable clothing. Don’t wear clothing that doesn’t stretch. Your physical therapist will have you take part in treatment activities during your first session.
During Your First Visit
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Your physical therapist will begin by asking you questions about your health. These questions will include specific questions about your current condition and any symptoms that led you to see them. The details you give will help your physical therapist assess whether you are likely to benefit from physical therapy. It also will help them choose the treatments that will be most beneficial to you.
Your physical therapist will ask you specific questions about your home and work settings, your health habits and activity level, and your hobby and sports interests. Their goal is to help you become as active and independent as possible and return to the activities you enjoy.
Your physical therapist will perform a detailed physical exam. Depending on your symptoms and condition, your physical therapist may evaluate your:
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Strength
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Stability
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Flexibility
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Mobility
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Balance
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Coordination
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Posture
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Endurance
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Agility
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Your physical therapist will work with you to determine your goals for physical therapy. Then, they will create a treatment plan for your specific condition and goals. In many cases, the physical therapist will diagnose your condition and begin treatment during the first visit.
One main goal of treatment is to improve or maintain your ability to do daily tasks and activities. Your physical therapist may address pain, swelling, weakness, and limited motion to help you reach this goal. They will check your response to each treatment and make changes as often as needed. Physical therapy treatment may speed your recovery.
Education is an important aspect of your physical therapy treatment. Your physical therapist may teach you specific exercises to do at home. They also may show you different ways to do your work and home activities. The goal is to lessen or get rid of the problem believed to be the reason for your pain, strain, or injury and show you ways to stay healthy.
At the end of the session, the therapist will discuss your diagnosis and answer any questions you may have. You will be provided with pictures and instructions of the exercises you are expected to do at home. In addition, you will receive a link to a free app with your individual exercised in video form.
Your physical therapist will share important information with your doctor and other health care providers at your request.
Your physical therapist will recheck your progress continuously throughout your plan of care. They will work with you to plan for your discharge from physical therapy when you are ready. You will work with the same physical therapist throughout your episode of care. You visits will be one-on-one with your physical therapist and will run at least one hour each visit.
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Get the Most Out of Physical Therapy
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You will get out of your physical therapy sessions what you put into them. It will take a certain amount of effort on your part, as agreed between you and your physical therapist, to get the most benefit from each session and speed your recover or improve your performance.
Here are four tips to help you get the most out of physical therapy:
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Keep Your Appointments
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Arrive for your sessions on time or a few minutes early. Being late may reduce your one-on-one time with your physical therapist and affect other patients/clients.
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Engage in the discussion to decide how often you will see your physical therapist and determine your treatment goals. Then, work with your physical therapist to meet your goals.
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Attend your appointments. Missing appointments can delay your progress. Failing to show without canceling in advance may result in a fee and disrupts the physical therapist's schedule. If an emergency keeps you from going, try to give notice as soon as possible. Review the facility's financial and cancellation policy before you begin treatment.
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If you plan to stop therapy or change how often you receive treatment for personal or financial reasons, discuss this with your physical therapist.
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Follow Your Physical Therapist's Instructions
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It is essential to follow your physical therapist's guidance. They may recommend that you:
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Modify an activity.
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Limit or restrict the use of a specific body part (such as reducing weight on one leg while walking).
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Avoid certain movements.
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Perform your home exercise as prescribed.
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DO YOU TAKE MY INSURANCE?
Storm Physical Therapy is an out of network clinic, meaning we do not bill your insurance company. Providing care within a cash-based model allows Storm Physical Therapy, Wellness, and Peak Performance to provide customized care that is tailored specifically to each client without being limited by an insurance company.
Most insurance companies do not cover the entire cost of a physical therapy visit which leaves many patients responsible for copays and deductibles that can be up to $250 a visit until that deductible is met. Insurance companies also continue to lower reimbursement rates for physical therapy services making it necessary for physical therapy companies to make up the cost by increasing the volume of patients and double or triple booking their physical therapists. This leads to less time with your licensed physical therapist, different therapists each session resulting in inconsistent care, and even portions of your care being overseen by non-licensed technicians.
By not taking insurance, we are able to provide personalized, one-on-one care with the same therapist every time, the ability to treat several body parts during the same plan of care, transparency about the cost of every visit up front with no surprise bills, and more access to your physical therapist outside the treatment sessions.
After each session, you can be provided with a "superbill" or itemized receipt, which details all of the information you need to submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. You may be able to receive reimbursement or credit towards your deductible or out of pocket amount. We recommend reaching out to your insurance company prior to your first appointment with any questions about your out-of-network benefits
DO I NEED A DOCTOR’S REFERRAL?
The state of North Carolina has “Direct Access” to Physical Therapy, which means that you are not legally required to obtain a physician’s referral before seeing a Physical Therapist for an evaluation or treatment. .
It’s important to remember that if you are under the care of a Physician and require Physical Therapy, you have the freedom to choose which physical therapy clinic to receive your treatment from.
NO SURPRISE ACT NOTICE
YOUR RIGHT TO A "GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE"
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You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
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You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
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Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
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If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
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Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call our number on our website for more information.
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