Do I Have To Go To Therapy Where My Doctor Sends Me?

Hi, I'm Katie coming at you from STEPS for Recovery, and I'm here to answer the question:  “Do I have to go to therapy where my doctor sent me?” The short answer to this question is no. Patients have a choice to go to therapy wherever they want to go. You are not obligated to go to the hospital therapy department or to your doctor's preferred therapist. Even if a referral has already been sent to a place, you can ask your doctor to send a new referral to a place that you choose. I do have some suggestions for things to consider as you select your therapist.

First, how long does it take to get an evaluation appointment? With stroke and brain injury recovery in particular, science has shown that early access to rehabilitation is important for the best outcomes. If you have to wait weeks or months for your first appointment, you're missing out on valuable recovery time.

Second, how long after the evaluation do you have to wait for the next appointment? Sometimes a clinic or hospital can get you in for an evaluation, but then you have to wait a week or more for your next appointment.  Again, costing you valuable recovery time.

Does the clinic offer coordinated and convenient scheduling to meet your needs? Stroke and brain injury recovery can take a long time and involve multiple therapies multiple times each week. It can be helpful for transportation purposes, energy needs, and scheduling your other appointments if you have the flexibility to schedule in a way that meets your needs.

Next, is the clinic easy to access? You may be going to therapy multiple times each week. A place that is easy to get into in terms of transportation is important. Once you arrive there, a building that is easy to access can help you save your energy for therapy, not just use it getting into the building.

Next, how much will it cost? Rehabilitation is typically covered by insurance, but if you don't have insurance or if you have limited visits under your insurance plan, cost may be a factor.  Therapy is much more expensive at a hospital-based therapy clinic than at a privately owned clinic.

Finally, how knowledgeable and skilled are the therapists? You are trusting your therapist to guide you on your rehabilitation journey. Seek out the experts in this journey for the best results. At STEPS for Recovery, we treat our clients like family. We get to know you and your needs so that we tailor both a schedule and a rehabilitation plan to match your unique needs and interests. We only accept patients when we have room for immediate follow-up, and we work with you and your schedule to find the optimal, consistent spot to meet your needs. Because we offer physical, occupational, and speech therapy all in one place, we can meet all of your therapy needs. Our office is located on Chapel Hill Road, one mile off of I-40, so we're easy to access by car or public transportation services. We have affordable self-pay options for those without insurance or who have used all of their visits. and we work with a local nonprofit that helps with funding rehabilitation when insurance runs out. Finally, our therapists are the best in the business when it comes to stroke and brain injury rehabilitation. We are dedicated to helping you achieve the best possible outcomes and reaching your functional goals. Please give us a call, take a virtual tour on our website (STEPSforRecovery.com), check out our reviews and social media, or come by and see for yourself if Steps for Recovery is a good fit for you.