Direct access gets you in, out, and feeling better faster

Did you know that in North Carolina, we have “direct access”? That means folks do not need a Physician’s referral to see a physical therapist if they have an ache or pain or difficulty moving.

Just give us a call. Come on in. We’ll take care of you!

That’s great news for patients. They can schedule and attend an evaluation appointment where I’ll develop a personalized plan of care for them. Often, they’ll feel better before they could have even gotten an appointment with their primary care physician.

I think what happened is the insurance companies realized that if somebody goes to a physical therapist early on, it’s quite likely in the long run that it will cost them less to take care of that person.

Paul the Physical Therapist

Direct access PT is convenient, fast, and it works.

Seeing a physical therapist is a less invasive, first step that many times means a patient doesn’t have to take further expensive and anxiety-producing steps like X-rays, MRIs, and surgery.

But best of all…

Research suggests – check out this 2023 Wall Street Journal article about this University of Pittsburgh study – the majority of patients with low back pain who try physical therapy first get better faster than those who start with a general medicine approach.

Then, there’s money

The next question that usually comes to mind is, “Will my insurance pay for it if I just come in myself?” And the answer to that question is almost always yes. I think what happened is the insurance companies realized that if somebody goes to a physical therapist early on, it’s quite likely in the long run that it will cost them less to take care of that person.

So, a less invasive physical therapy intervention is a safer bet even for the insurance companies. In our American health care system, that’s a big deal.

Make no mistake, we have excellent relationships with area physicians and receive referrals from practices locally as well as in the Triangle, southern Virginia, and the Charlotte area. If we see a patient for whom we do not feel physical therapy will be effective, we refer them to their medical practitioner or a specialist.

Patients seeking a less invasive first choice

Some years ago, I had a conversation with a Spine Specialist who had referred many patients to me. The surgeon said, “You know, there were a lot of people that I sent to see you who I thought were going to need back surgery who ended up not needing surgery.”

Wow. But that’s common. I’ve seen plenty of people who’ve had surgery recommended to them only to decide they want to try a less invasive approach first. And we’ve been able to help many of them avoid surgery.

I love my work. It’s fun helping people move better and feel better, and I’m thrilled that patients in North Carolina can make it happen faster with Direct Access!

–Paul Weiss, PT, Dip MDT
Photo: Adobe Stock