With the cost of health care rising and the number of approved
physical therapy visits decreasing, patients often have to be discharged
prior to full resolution of symptoms. To be honest, insurance companies
don't care if you can't run in that 5k or go ballroom dancing anymore.
In their eyes, if you can dress yourself, feed yourself, and walk a few
blocks then you don't need physical therapy. To that end, patients can
either sit around and complain how unfair insurance is (though writing
in to your insurance company/local officials is a good idea) or they can
take their health into their own hands, dig a little deeper into their
pockets, and get back to EVERY activity that they want to perform.
As
previously stated, for most patients, insurance coverage will only take
them so far. Insurance will not cover maintenance therapy or sessions
to help make you a faster runner. Insurance companies want to see that
you can function at a very basic level and could care less about that
upcoming golf trip you have planned. The good news is, Duffy &
Bracken offers wellness programs that bridge the gap, fill in the holes, and
address those issues that insurance companies deem superfluous. Want to
PR in your next race? Try our new running program. Consider yourself a
runner but don't know what PR means? Even more reason to check out our
running program. Want to improve your tennis game? Consider signing up
for a sports performance analysis. Want your feet to stop hurting?
Definitely invest in our Happy Feet program.
A
few months ago, while perched atop my soapbox I wrote an article
about what we as physical
therapists have to offer. Our unique skill set enables us to create
specialized programs that directly address the needs of patients
regarding nearly any physical activity. However, this extensive
knowledge base only benefits patients when patients realize the value of
the service being offered and choose to invest in their well-being. I
always find it interesting how willing people are to pay personal
trainers hundreds of dollars, yet balk at the idea of having to pay a $25
copay for a physical therapy visit. No judgement, no guilt trip, but the
services that good physical therapists offer are worth it.
The
therapists at Duffy & Bracken hold doctoral degrees, personal
training certifications, and manual therapy certifications. This
advanced training allows us to not only optimize the gains made during
the allocated physical therapy visits, but to implement after-care
programs that get patients back to 100% functionality. Would it be great
if insurance covered visits to make us run faster, jump higher, and
drive that golfball farther? Of course. Is that going to happen anytime
soon? Absolutely not. That in mind, patients need to invest in
themselves and check out the after-care programs that Duffy &
Bracken has to offer. We're worth it. Your health is worth it.
C. Shante Cofield, PT, DPT, CSCS
