What is direct access?
Direct access refers your ability to access a physical therapist’s services without the referral of a physician. The rationale behind Direct Access is that mandating a referral prior to PT treatment may cause adverse delays in the provision of physical therapy services. Such delays could then result in higher medical costs, decreased function outcomes, and hardships to patients seeking physical therapy treatment. Further, it is important to note that physical therapists are trusted health care professionals with extensive clinical experience who examine, diagnose, and then prevent or treat conditions that limit the body’s ability to move and/ or function in daily life. Physical therapists are well qualified to recognize when patients demonstrate conditions that should be evaluated by other healthcare professionals. PT has a proven track record of effectively treating millions of patients.
~ American Physical Therapy Association www.moveforwardpt.com