Appointment Essentials
How do I schedule an appointment?
Simply call the office manager at the First Choice location which is most convenient to you. The office manager will be happy to answer any questions you may have such as insurance questions or facility hours.
What should I expect on my first visit to First Choice?
Your first visit will last 1-1½ hours. Please bring or wear loose-fitting garments such as a tank top and shorts, baggy t-shirt, or sweat pants without elastic bottoms. You will need to arrive at least 20-25 minutes early to allow time complete pain and function surveys. Please turn off cellular phones and pagers upon arrival to maximize efficient use of your time at the clinic.
You will want to bring the following:
- New Patient Forms
- Written referral for physical therapy
- Appropriate insurance authorization (if necessary)
- Any applicable co-payments
- Change of clothes (if not already wearing loose-fitting clothes)
- Any x-ray or MRI interpretations from recent tests (no need to bring the actual images)
The evaluation will mostly occur in a private, comfortable examination room. The physical assessment will be through and will begin by discussing your medical history, onset of the problem, and lifestyle and work-related habits. Please know the names of the medications you are currently taking.
The next portion of the exam will include posture and movement assessment, special test, and palpation of specific structures related to your complaint in an effort to determine the cause of the problem.
After the examination, the physical therapist, will discuss with you what the problem is and describe your plan of treatment.
How often will I need to attend physical therapy?
Most patients are treated two to three times per week. The total duration of physical therapy will depend on the severity of your injury. The more committed you are to your recovery (you come to scheduled appointments and perform your home exercises), the more likely you are to recover faster. We offer morning and evening appointment to enable you to fit PT into your busy schedule.
What is First Choice's treatment philosophy?
Our treatment philosophy is directed toward returning the patient to their optimal level of functioning, whether that be returning to work, the playing field or improving activities of daily living.
Acutely, treatment may be centered around care to control pain, swelling and inflammation. Modalities, gentle manual therapy and light exercises may be used. As your condition improves, your program progresses into the "corrective" phase. In this phase, aerobic conditioning, flexibility, and resistive exercises become the focus of your rehabilitation. We rely heavily on the patient's active involvement and patients are expected to follow their personalized program for work or home.
Will my insurance cover physical therapy treatments at First Choice?
We accept most major insurance plans including Worker's Comp and Auto carriers. Click Here for a partial list of specific insurance plans.