Have you, a family member, or a friend ever raised a concern to a doctor and asked about therapy access, only to be told “give it time?” In the meantime, you or your loved one experience worry, pain, decreased function, and other life-impacting issues.
The fact is you don’t have to wait.
You can schedule speech, occupational, and physical therapy services without a doctor’s prescription in many states. This is called direct access, allowing you to access therapy services whenever you want.
Direct-access therapy services have many advantages that can prompt health and overall function.
Timeliness
Schedule therapy as soon as the issue arises instead of going to see a doctor which may delay the start of therapy. Instead, address issues that therapy can help with like pain, injuries, or developmental delays as quickly as possible. Early intervention generally leads to better outcomes.
Cost Effective
You may avoid costs associated with extra doctor’s visits and other diagnostics if you schedule therapy without getting a doctor’s referral.
More Control
When accessing therapy directly, you can determine what type of therapy would be most beneficial to you as well as when, and where, the services should take place. Your therapists will work with you to develop the best treatment plan that will meet your needs. You get therapy on your own terms.
Coordinated Care
When given permission to share information, all therapy clinicians can coordinate care with physicians and other healthcare providers. If a therapist feels that your condition warrants further diagnostic testing, medication management, or other doctor related services, they will make those recommendations to you. In addition, some states have regulations that require therapists to contact your doctor if treatment needs to continue after a set period of time. You don’t have to choose having services from just a therapist or a doctor. You can have both.
