Physical Therapy and Direct Access

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Physical Therapists have traditionally been needed to work underneath the direction of a referring physician. Whereas this has been a relationship that has worked in the past, the profession of Physical Therapy is growing with advanced degrees now required of all new graduates to possess their Masters in Physical Therapy and additional programs giving a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. As Physical Therapists and the profession of Physical Therapy advances, the link between the therapist and the physician must be redefined.
In order for a shopper to seek the services of a Physical Therapist, they have been previously needed to determine their primary care physician first for an initial assessment. The primary care physician then had the choice of writing a referral to therapy services or referring the patient to a specialist such as an orthopedist, cardiologist, neurologist, or one of the many different specialists. While this diagnostic assessment is critical to the success of the patient and also the therapist, the time it took the patient to be processed through these systems has been extensive. With additional time lapsing, the patient usually suffered from increasing pain and decreasing function. While not the immediate intervention and education provided by a Physical Therapist to compliment the ongoing diagnostic assessments, patients have had to unnecessarily wait to solicit and initiate the services of a Physical Therapist.
Over the past several years, the National Yank Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in cooperation with every state’s Physical Therapy Association has lobbied congress for Direct Access in every state. Direct access, as stated by the APTA, “is the flexibility of a physical therapist to provide evaluation and treatment to patients while not the need for a physician referral. At now, a lot of than 35 states have some form of direct access as part of their state practice act. Physical therapists in states that currently have restrictions to direct access are actively operating with those state legislatures to make the changes needed to allow patients/shoppers to getting at care.”
As the state accepts Direct Access for Physical Therapy services, shoppers will now be able to travel directly to a therapist for assessment and treatment. In most states, it’s still required for patients to follow up with their primary care physician or specialist as a script for therapy services is still required to continue ongoing PT treatment. This immediate access to therapeutic care in cooperation and conjunction with the diagnostic assessment of the physicians and supporting medical community results in a abundant higher rate of success in an exceedingly timely manner for the individual seeking services.
The National APTA has issued a Vision Statement for Physical Therapy services over the subsequent twelve years. The APTA Vision Statement for Physical Therapy 2020 is “Physical therapy, by 2020, will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy and who might be board-certified specialists. Shoppers will have direct access to physical therapists in all environments for patient/shopper management, prevention, and wellness services. Physical therapists will be practitioners of selection in patients’/shoppers’ health networks and will hold all privileges of autonomous practice.”
More Physical Therapists are graduating from college with their Doctorate of Physical Therapy. There’s conjointly a growing trend of practicing Physical Therapists with their Bachelors and Masters Degrees to go back to high school to earn advanced degrees so as to attain the Vision of the APTA. As advanced clinicians, we are currently able to realize and support the APTA’s vision to produce direct access to Physical Therapy services in our communities.