FAQ

You are ultimately getting a “house call” with a doctorate level healthcare professional. A recent article reports that “Substantial evidence supports home and community based physical therapists as essential health care providers during the Covid-19 pandemic…patients who experience a decline in physical function after hospital discharge have a 250% increase in risk for hospital readmission or death” (Falvey, Kraft, & Kornetti, 2020). Studies also suggest that with increased utilization of physical therapy services, there is a reduction in overall healthcare expenses. Another study reports that rehab exercises can help improve heart/lung function, relieve muscle aches, prevent weakness, and address stress/anxiety which can impact your immune system (Gu, et al, 2020). This isn’t just during the pandemic, this is across different diagnoses and levels of care. The benefits of skilled and conscientious physical therapy services not only helps you regain strength, function, and activity tolerance, but will address equipment needs, caregiver training, and a home safety assessment to get you back on your feet. Still not sold? Well, mobile PT will also:

• Guarantee 1:1 visits EVERY time with same provider= No more being passed between different providers or sharing your time with another patient
• Eliminate the need to drive to/from a clinic= No battling traffic, adding 60-90 minutes for drive  time, or arranging for transportation
• Reduce risk of exposure to potential pathogens= No unnecessary community contact
• Allow you to apply your newly learned skills in YOUR environment= No trying to make sense of it in real life
• Give you the value of Convenience without Compromise= You get high level service without having to leave your home
• Make YOU the driver of your rehab, NOT the insurance company= I work for YOU!

Mobile physical therapy should not be confused with “home health” therapy, which is often prescribed after a hospitalization or surgery. In order to receive home health services, you need to be considered “homebound”, meaning you 1) need help of another person or medical equipment to leave your home OR your physician believes your condition can worsen if you leave 2) it is difficult or taxing to leave your home. My particular model of Mobile PT is considered “home-based” outpatient physical therapy. It is an ideal transition to advance your goals and help you return to your “normal”. Whatever your “normal” looks like OR whatever you would like your normal to look like, is going to be our goal. That can be returning to work/ school, taking care of your family, traveling, biking, hiking, shopping, ….How does it look to YOU?

Mobile PT is just like it sounds- it is literally meeting you where you are and at what level you are! We are not restricted by any facility, institution, or building. Research shows that the best learning happens when you are in the environment that you need to practice that skill (Lee & Fisher, 2019). Makes sense, right? If you don’t want to feel like you are going to fall every time you walk across your driveway to check the mail or when you reach for things in your closet, then we work in that context. You don’t have to try to translate what you learn in a clinic to home! Studies also show benefits like better functional outcomes and reduced healthcare expenses (associated with facility admission and length of stay) in cases like total joint arthroplasty (hip/knee), breast cancer, physical disabilities, stroke, and shoulder pain. Bottom line, In order to optimize learning and create lasting results, we have to practice the actual task in the actual environment that you need to function!

References

1. Lee,Y, Fisher, B. The Effect of Practice Schedule on Context-Dependent Learning. Journal of Motor Behavior. 2019; 51(2): 121-128.
2. Menon, N, Turcotte, J, Stone, A, Adkins, A, MacDonald, J, King, P. Outpatient, Home-Based Physical Therapy Promotes Decreased Length of Stay and Post-Acute Resource Utilization After Total Joint Arthroplasty. Journal of Arthroplasty. 2020; 35(8): 1968-1972.
3. Coughlin, S, Caplan, L, Williams, V. Home-based physical activity interventions for breast cancer patients receiving primary therapy: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Research & Treatment. 2019; 178(3): 513-522.
4. Santello, G, Rossi, D, Martins, J, Libardoni, T, de Oliveira, A. Effects on shoulder pain and disability of teaching patients with shoulder pain a home-based exercise program: a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2020; 34(10):1245-1255.

5.    Gelaw, AJ, Janakiraman, B, Gebremeskel, BF, Raviachandran, H. Effectiveness of Home-based

       rehabilitation in improving physical function of persons with Stroke and other physical disability: A

       systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease. 2020; 29(6): 104800. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104800. Epub 2020 Apr 8. PMID: 32278534.

6.   Chaiyawat,P, Kulkantrakorn,K. Randomized controlled trial of home rehabilitation for patients with ischemic stroke: impact upon disability and elderly depression. Psychogeriatrics. 2012; 12(3):193-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1479-8301.2012.00412.x. PMID: 22994618.

Telehealth is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies. It allows long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions. wikipedia

“The COVID-19 public health emergency led to rapid and expansive adoption of, and payment for, physical therapist services provided via telehealth — something for which APTA has long advocated. But while these changes were welcome and have provided an important opportunity for patients to access or resume physical therapy when in-person visits are not possible, they are not a long-term solution” (Bell, 2020)

Telehealth is a great tool and means to still provide skilled physical therapy services whether or not we are in the midst of a pandemic. It is often used as “telemedicine” with physicians especially for rural communities or for urgent specialty assessments like in the case of identifying a stroke. The physical therapy profession has been advancing it’s presence in the healthcare community and has gained temporary ground in telehealth privileges.  Studies show that in some cases, patients can receive comparable benefits and outcomes as in person visits. Grit Mobility has telehealth capabilities on a secure platform to serve your needs and accommodate your preferences for a safe experience.

Reference

Bell,A.(2020,December 1)Telehealth: What’s Next? Retrieved from https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2020/12/01/apta-magazine-december-2020/telehealth-whats-next

A huge determinant of how physical therapists practice as a profession is based on evidence in research plus our clinical experience and judgement. It’s also important for you to be informed so that you can take ownership in your own health. Be careful about consulting with just any internet site! I will provide you with credible links for information and resources as well as educational tidbits. You’ve probably noticed, I love that stuff! Keep checking in on this section for updated health information

https://www.nih.gov  [Research, fact sheets, etc]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [Research]

https://www.cdc.gov  [Health information and resources]

https://www.biausa.org [Brain injury]

https://www.cando-ms.org  and https://www.nationalmssociety.org  [Multiple Sclerosis]

https://www.apdaparkinson.org  [Parkinson’s disease]

https://unitedspinal.org  [Spinal cord injury]

https://www.cancer.gov [Cancer]

More Info Click Here

How to Determine Your Insurance Benefits for Physical Therapy

Grit Mobility Concepts  –  Dr. Ann Phillips

1. Call the toll free # for customer service on your insurance card. Select the option that will allow you to speak with a customer service provider, not an automated system.
2. Ask the customer service provider to quote your physical therapy benefits in general. These are frequently termed “rehabilitation benefits” and can include occupational therapy, speech therapy, and sometimes massage therapy.
3. Make sure the customer service provider understands you are seeing a non-preferred provider/out- of-network provider.

Idaho is a Direct Access State

Physical therapists can provide evaluation and treatment services without the need for an order or referral from any other health care professional in accordance with state law. Idaho is 1 of 20 states that offer unrestricted patient access. However, in order to receive reimbursement, some payers require a physician’s order.

More Info

APTA Web Site

Medicare beneficiaries can go directly to physical therapists without a referral or visit to a physician. This policy became effective in 2005 through revisions to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (Publication 100-02), which eliminated the physician visit requirement. However, a patient must be “under the care of a physician,” which is indicated by the physician certification of the plan of care.