New Patients and Frequently Asked Questions
As a new patient to physical therapy or a returning patient to Sports & Performance Physical Therapy you may have many question about what physical therapy is like on your first visit. You may also want to know what to expect during your visits and understand how we operate at Sports & Performance Physical Therapy. Below you will find some frequently asked questions, however if there is still a question that we have not addressed please feel free to contact our office at (775) 470-5881.
New Patients- What to Expect
Your doctor has recommend you come to physical therapy for your injury or surgery and you need to know what to do from there.
- Call our office at (775) 470-5882 to make our first appointment (Initial Evaluation)
- Have ready to tell our office your email for our automated chart system, your prescription/referral from your doctor and your insurance information.
- Have your calendar ready to make an appointment that will be about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours in length. This will include your time with the therapist but also for administrative task such as filing out your paper work, making additional appointments and paying for your co-pay or other charges.
Some frequently asked questions prior to your first visit
What is your first appointment like?
The day of your physical therapy evaluation will allow us, the PTs to understand your issue through evaluating things such as, your range of motion, your strength and your joint mobility to name a few. From the information we obtain through our thorough evaluation we will come up with a customized treatment plan. If time allows we will start some treatment that first day, such as learning your home exercise program and doing some hands-on manual treatment if applicable.
How much time should I set aside?
The first appointment you should allow yourself about one and half hours. This allows for filling out paperwork (unless you filled it out ahead of time), evaluation and treatment, as well as checking in, making more appointments and making payments. Most follow up allow yourself an hour of time to be with us at the clinic.
What to bring with you?
Bring your paperwork with you, your insurance card, your prescription or referral from your doctor.
What to wear?
At your evaluation and follow-up appointment, your physical therapist needs to see how you move, and might need to access the site of your injury.
Here are some pointers for choosing what to wear to your evaluation:
- Clothing you can move in. Clothes you might wear to the gym or on a run.
- Loose clothing that can be moved aside to access the site of your injury/issue. Example: Have a knee injury? Shorts are a great idea. Low back issue? Wear a loose t-shirt instead of a tight tank-top.
- Comfortable, flat soled shoes. Again running or workout shoes are best.
Where to park?
Parking is available in the garage with free validation or behind the building. There is also plenty of street parking around the building. Please DO NOT park in the museum parking. There is also a loading zone right outside of our door that makes for easy drop off and pick up.
Where to change?
We have private treatment room that allow for changing. Just ask the front desk when you arrive to show you to a room to change.
What will my physical therapy follow-up appointment be like?
At follow-up visits, Sports & Performance Physical Therapy clinicians and physical therapy aides will take you through the next stage of helping your injury or condition to progress you forward in the recovery progress. This may include learning more exercises or doing different manual hand-on on work.
Your First Visit
When you arrive at physical therapy you will check in for your visit, come up to the front desk and do the following:
- Sign in with your name, the time you arrived, and the physical therapist you’re seeing.
- Pay your co-pay, co-insurance, deductible, or visit payment.
- Take a seat and wait for your physical therapist to come get you.
The physical therapist will then spend about 45 minute to one hour doing a comprehensive and thorough evaluation of your injury, surgery or problem area. First we will ask about your medical history, then we will do our objective measure by looking at your range of motion to see how well you move, your strength, your biomechanics and posture and special test specific for your injury or problem.
This evaluation gives us the knowledge to then create your plan of care, which may include a home exercise program, therapeutic exercise, manual physical therapy treatment, or sports & dance specific activities. In some cases we may also include modalities such as ultrasound, electric stimulation or light therapy depending on your medical needs.
After your appointment you will stop by the front desk to:
- Confirm your next appointment.
- Schedule out the rest of your follow-up visits based on your plan of care.
- Pay for your co-pay, any other fees that maybe due at time of service, if you haven’t already done so.
- Ask our accounts manager about how your insurance company will be covering your visits.
Paying for Visits
Which Insurances We Accept?
On our Insurance & Payment page (hyperlink) there is a complete list of insurance that we accept at In-Network providers. Sports & Performance Physical Therapy is In-network with Medicare Part B and most major PPOs.
Can I pay cash or “out of pocket” to see a Sports & Performance Clinician?
For those who will be paying for visits out of pocket, we offer competitive cash rates. We currently offer an hour evaluation session at 135.00 and a follow up visit at 75.00 for 30 minutes or an extended follow up of 50 minutes for 125.00. We can also provide the proper documentation, such as a super bill, so that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
