Physical Therapy: A Case Study
The advent of direct access will open up new avenues for physical therapy and working in an outpatient pediatric facility can be fertile ground for direct access. Studies have shown that direct access has improved patient outcomes. Based on the journal written by Ojha, Snyder & Davenport, (2014), “There is evidence across level 3 and 4 studies (grade B to C CEBM level of recommendation) that physical therapy by direct access compared with referred episodes of care is associated with improved patient outcomes and decreased costs.” This is favorable news which would help improve patient care and would drastically reduce healthcare costs for patients and insurance companies as well. Working with speech therapists and occupational therapists in
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F. (2003). By allowing patients to choose a physical therapist, our patients are given free reign to choose a physical therapist that can provide quality care and help patients achieve their goals which would improve patient satisfaction. “the percentage of those who achieved their goals was 15% more in the direct access group compared with a control group” Ojha, H. A., Snyder, R. S., & Davenport, T. E. (2014). However, this has proven to be difficult, since direct access is still not recognized in a pediatric setting or in a skilled nursing facility setting. Having worked in a skilled nursing facility setting, a doctor’s referral is needed for a patient to be seen for physical therapy. This process, however, has proven that the sense of urgency is taken out of the equation and would thereby affect a patient’s quality of life (e.g. causing more pain leading to decreased quality of life, increasing weakness leading to increased risk for falls). It has also been duly noted in another study that “National physical therapy associations (89%) and the public (84%) were thought to be in support of direct access, with less support perceived from policy makers (35%) and physicians (16%).” Bury, T. J., & Stokes, E. K. (2013). I am convinced that spreading awareness about physical therapy and acquiring a doctorate in physical therapy would aid us to become a practitioner of choice and at the same time improve direct access as
F. (2003). By allowing patients to choose a physical therapist, our patients are given free reign to choose a physical therapist that can provide quality care and help patients achieve their goals which would improve patient satisfaction. “the percentage of those who achieved their goals was 15% more in the direct access group compared with a control group” Ojha, H. A., Snyder, R. S., & Davenport, T. E. (2014). However, this has proven to be difficult, since direct access is still not recognized in a pediatric setting or in a skilled nursing facility setting. Having worked in a skilled nursing facility setting, a doctor’s referral is needed for a patient to be seen for physical therapy. This process, however, has proven that the sense of urgency is taken out of the equation and would thereby affect a patient’s quality of life (e.g. causing more pain leading to decreased quality of life, increasing weakness leading to increased risk for falls). It has also been duly noted in another study that “National physical therapy associations (89%) and the public (84%) were thought to be in support of direct access, with less support perceived from policy makers (35%) and physicians (16%).” Bury, T. J., & Stokes, E. K. (2013). I am convinced that spreading awareness about physical therapy and acquiring a doctorate in physical therapy would aid us to become a practitioner of choice and at the same time improve direct access as