Information for Physicians and Referral Partners
We provide a hands-on, customized approach to promoting recovery and treating pain.
At South Orange Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, our patients overall well-being is our primary concern. We regularly work with physicians in all disciplines to help our patients arrive at a satisfactory outcome. We refer and receive referrals from a wide range of physicians.
- Primary Care Physicians
- Orthopedic MDs
- Neurologists
- Pain Management Professionals
- Neurosurgeons
- Chiropractic
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT I SHOULD SUGGEST?
Decisions about specific interventions, duration, and frequency of visits are best left to the physical therapist upon examination/evaluation. You can explain to your patient that the physical therapist will evaluate them and identify any physical therapy problems such as pain, weakness, loss of motion, loss of function, gait problems, etc.
The physical therapist will explain all aspects of the plan of care to the patient and will send you a report with an outline of their care. This way, the patient doesn’t have a false expectation for physical therapy and the best intervention options can be utilized.
Any specific requests you make will be incorporated in the patient’s program if appropriate.
CAN I REFER FOR A CONSULTATION?
Absolutely. Simply tell your patient you would like them to be seen by a physical therapist to see if we can be helpful. We will take a look at the patient and call you or send a report, as you prefer.
Also, feel free to call us first for general information and intervention options for an individual patient or for more general information on various diagnoses or types of problems.
HOW WILL I KNOW HOW MY PATIENT IS PROGRESSING?
The physical therapist will send you a full written report on your patient after first seeing the patient. Information included will be history, objective findings, assessment, and intervention type and frequency.
The patient will be periodically re-examined and updated reports will be sent. Frequency of reports will depend upon the chronicity and nature of the problem. Re-examinations and reports will also be sent prior to any follow -up visit you have scheduled with the patient. If you would like reports or updates more frequently and/or verbally, please call or write it on your referral.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT FREQUENCY AND DURATION TO REFER MY PATIENT FOR?
In most cases it is best to leave specific duration and frequency up to the physical therapist.
DO YOU NEED OPERATIVE, MRI OR X-RAY REPORTS?
As physical therapists, we work very closely with your patients to allow gradual stress on a surgical site. Operative reports, X-rays and/or MRI reports are always helpful, but are not absolutely necessary. Any vital information can be written directly on the referral as outlined in the previous question.
WHAT OTHER INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ON THE REFERRAL FORM?
Other than a clinical diagnosis, if known, other helpful information:
- Weight-bearing restrictions for post-surgical and post-fracture patients.
- Fracture status.
- ROM restrictions for post-surgical patients.
- Degrees of resistance allowed for the post-surgical patient (e.g., active, passive or resisted).
- Expected limits in ROM if any, for a final outcome on a post-surgical patient.
- Type of surgical procedure and/or type of internal fixation used.
- Specific requests for splints, braces, or orthotics.
HOW DO I REFER A PATIENT TO PHYSICAL THERAPY?
Referring a patient to physical therapy is easy. Simply give the patient a referral form.
Again, with managed care, although we make every effort to take care of all insurance and pre-certification requirements, unfortunately, some insurance companies require the physician to get pre-certification. If this is the case, it must sometimes be done before the patient is allowed to start.
HOW LONG AFTER I REFER A PATIENT WILL MY PATIENT BE SEEN IN PHYSICAL THERAPY?
In most cases, patients are scheduled promptly. On an emergency basis, we will see the patient that day.
Unfortunately, with today’s managed care, some insurance companies don’t allow this timely scheduling secondary to precertification requirements. Please call us if there is any question.
We Work With Most Major Insurance Providers
Contact South Orange Rehabilitation & Wellness
Contact South Orange Rehabilitation and Wellness right away to learn the ongoing benefits of physical therapy as a treatment for illness, injury and ongoing pain.