Your doctor's office may be very busy right now and there are many reasons for this. People who delayed medical care as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are now returning to doctors’ offices, sometimes with exacerbated symptoms and conditions. Summer-related activities – vacations, backyard barbecues, pool parties, car trips, and more time spent outside in the sun and heat (when it's not raining) – frequently lead to accidents requiring medical attention. Plus, families with school-aged children are scheduling school physicals, procedures and visits before the school year resumes.
Luckily, you can see a licensed PT in Massachusetts WITHOUT obtaining a referral from an MD first. This is called Direct Access.
Direct Access means the removal of
the physician referral formally mandated by state law to access physical
therapist services for evaluation and treatment. Every state, the
District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands allow for evaluation and
some form of treatment without physician referral. However, many of
those states continue to impose arbitrary restrictions on direct access,
or only allow for treatment without referral under very limited
circumstances.
Why It Matters
Direct access restrictions cause
unnecessary delays for people who would benefit from treatment by a PT.
Delays in care result in higher costs, decreased functional outcomes,
and frustration to patients seeking physical therapy treatment.
Our Position
Allowing individuals to make
decisions regarding their health care is good policy. Direct Access to
physical therapy helps remove barriers to care. It helps make PT more
convenient and accessible. It ensures that you receive the highest
quality of care available, that you are able to access that care
quickly, and that it’s the right care for you. It eliminates the need
for an additional doctor’s appointment, can save you time and money and
can lead to higher satisfaction and better outcomes.
In these challenging times, your health is more important than ever. Not just if you’re working toward recovering from an injury or setback, but also because we know that improving your overall health improves your mood, mindset and well being. So if you are in pain, or something just does not feel right, come see us. It’s easy. Together we will determine a physical therapy treatment plan of care that best fits your needs, or we will refer you elsewhere if care is not appropriate at this time. Whether you define success as being able to return to work, sport or fitness, care for your family or simply tie your shoes without pain, our team consistently helps people achieve those goals.
You can start your recovery today.
