- My doctor said I need therapy. Do I have to go to his therapist, or can I go to any therapist?
- You have the right to attend therapy wherever you wish. However, certain therapists are more qualified to treat certain conditions. A hand surgeon is more likely to want you to see a Certified Hand Therapist.
- Your insurance may have limitations on which facilities you may attend.
- Please check with your insurance if you have questions regarding coverage.
- Don’t let anyone tell you that only a physician’s in-house therapists can get the questions you have, answered. All therapists have access to your physician via phone, fax, email, or in-person visits.
- What is a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)?
- A CHT is an Occupational or Physical Therapist who has a minimum of 3 years and 4000 hours of direct hand therapy experience, has taken numerous continuing education courses, and has passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation. Because of changes in the profession, every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five years.
- There are currently 6,700+ CHT’s in the world, 6,300+ in the United States.
- How can I tell that the therapist I was referred to is actually a Certified Hand Therapist?
- You can look them up on the HTCC website at HTCC.org which is the certification credentialing body for hand therapists. In order to be a CHT, you must have a HTCC certification.
- What is the difference between OT (occupational therapy) and PT (physical therapy)?
- At this time, both OT’s and PT’s coming out of college require a Master’s degree, although PT’s may soon require a doctorate.
- In very basic terms, OT’s tend to focus more on upper extremity treatment and PT’s tend of focus on lower extremity treatment and back/neck conditions.
- 85% of CHT’s are OT’s, although a PT can also be a CHT.
- OT is based on performing the meaningful activities of daily life (self-care skills, education, work, or social interaction), especially to enable of enhance participation in such activities despite impairments or limitations in physical or mental function.
- Occupational therapists are unique in that they look at the whole picture when it comes to a person’s treatment: the individual’s abilities, the task to be performed, and the environment in which the task takes place. They will assess, plan, implement and evaluate management of skills in activities of daily living whether at work or play. They will design required splints and adaptive devices.
- At this time, Helping Hands Rehab only has occupational therapy (and Certified Hand Therapists). You need to check with your insurance to verify that OT is covered in an outpatient setting.
- What happens at the 1st visit?
- At the 1st visit, the therapist will evaluate your condition. This may include measurement of your motion, your strength, your sensitivity to touch, your wound, etc.
- The therapist will also give you exercises for you to perform at home, called your Home Exercise Program or HEP for short. These exercises are important to speed you recovery.
- The therapist may also perform a various treatment techniques.
- What should I bring with me for the 1st visit?
- The prescription from your doctor. Your therapist CAN NOT see you without this. Even if your doctor says he will fax it, please get a physical copy and bring it with you if possible.
- Your insurance cards.
- Any claim numbers you have from you case.
- A state issued picture id, such as your driver’s license.
- How long is each treatment?
- Each session is about 45 minutes. This includes both the evaluation and subsequent treatments.
- How should I dress for therapy?
- Loose comfortable clothing is preferred. Your arm and injury site should be easily exposed, so that the therapist can see and feel the entire area.
- How many patients do you see at once?
- Our goal is to only have 1 patient at a time. At certain times of the day, usually last appointment of the day, there MAY be another patient who comes in a little earlier or a little later than you. This is only on a case by case basis and it is not encouraged.
- Do you ever see a Medicare patient with another patient at the same time?
- Never. To do so would mean that the Medicare patient would not billed at all.
- It is Medicare fraud to bill a Medicare patient while you are seen with another patient by the same therapist at the same time.
- Do you offer a self pay option?
- Yes. Our self pay rate is available to everyone who asks. It is $75 per visit.
- Self pay rate MUST BE PAID AT THE TIME OF SERVICE/VISIT. This is a Medicare rule. Because we take Medicare, we must follow their rules for all insurance.
- Is therapy painful?
- Some conditions are more painful than others. Your therapist will work within your tolerance to achieve maximal return of function.
- I was injured at work. Can I come to see Helping Hands Rehab?
- Yes! If you call us with your adjuster’s name, phone number, and company, we can contact them to get authorization. It helps to also have the physician’s order to send to them.
- As always, we need an order from a physician for OT to see you.
- Can I see a therapist without going to the doctor first?
- Unfortunately, no. The state of Illinois, as well as most insurance companies, require you to see a physician first.
- You may need to be assertive with your physician about seeing a therapist. We have had experiences where the physician would not send to therapy without seeing a orthopedic doctor first, or told them to “google” their diagnosis and do what Google says.
- We do offer 15 minute screening that includes a form that can be either faxed on your behalf to your doctor, or that you can take with you when you see your doctor.
- Does the Therapist speak any other language?
- At this time, no.
- We do have some Spanish language, professionally translated exercise handouts available.
- We ask that if you do not speak/understand English well, you bring someone who is able to interpret for you. Otherwise we have to figure it out with Google Translate, which doesn’t work well.
- If you have worker’s comp, they will sometimes have an interpreter come to your 1st appointment with you. You must ask for this from your case adjuster, in advance.