Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. If you have a problem that you think can be helped with physical therapy, feel free to give us a call. After discussing the specific problem you present us with, we can give you a better idea if it is something manageable with physical therapy. You can also give your doctor a call. If he or she is not sure, he or she is welcome to contact us as well. In today's healthcare, if you feel physical therapy can be helpful to you, you need to express these feelings to your doctor.

Call our office for an appointment. Our office staff will get the necessary information and assist you with an appointment. Our clinic and location are detailed on this website.

Oftentimes, your physician will give you a recommendation or a listing of physical therapists in your area. Sometimes your insurance company will guide you with regard to who is "in network" for your insurance plan. Ultimately, however, the decision as to where you receive your care is up to you. If you have a specific request, you need to let your physician and insurance company know. If we are not in network for your insurance company, most plans have out-of-network benefits that will allow you your choice of physical therapy.

You are able to bring any prescription to Hartley Physical Therapy and Fitness. To see if we are on your insurance plan, check out our website, your insurance company, or just give us a call.

In physical therapy, the goals should be to resolve your problem, not just temporarily relieve it. Although medication and other forms of treatment can be helpful in relieving symptoms, physical therapy produces a long-term result. The physician may opt to prescribe medication in conjunction with physical therapy depending on your diagnosis. Additionally, physical therapy unlike other forms of treatment is not designed to be a maintenance program. Because we look to resolve the problem, maintenance is not generally necessary.

Because of our expertise, we are widely regarded as leading experts in the field of physical therapy. We are dedicated to resolving problems in an environment that is welcoming and relaxed. Patients receive personalized care, not an assembly line atmosphere.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays

For your initial visit, please arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Urgent appointments are available for post-surgical patients or those suffering from severe pain.

In general, wear comfortable clothing to physical therapy. Should you present with a problem of your cervical spine, upper back or shoulders, the therapist can provide you with a gown as needed to expose those areas for treatment. If you are coming for lower extremity issues, shorts/gym clothes are important. Sneakers are recommended. You can bring clothing with you if you need to change here.

For your first visit you will need to bring your insurance card, your picture identification, your prescription and/or referral from your physician and your co-pay for outpatient physical therapy. If you have MRI or x-ray results, you may bring those as well, but they are not necessary. If you are utilizing any type of brace, splint, or crutches, those should come with you. A list of your current medications will be helpful when filling out the paperwork for your chart.

Usually 1 to 1½ hours.

If you need to cancel an appointment, please do so 24 hours prior to your scheduled time. If you do not contact us 24 hours prior to your appointment, we reserve the right to collect a cancellation fee of $30.

If you cancel or no-show 3 visits, we reserve the right to discontinue treatment and will inform your physician of your noncompliance with prescribed treatment.

If you schedule multiple appointments in advance and fail to attend three in a row, we reserve the right to cancel the remaining scheduled appointments.

The answer is yes. You can go directly to the physical therapist ! Physical therapists are well-qualified, both through formal education and clinical training, to evaluate a patient's condition, assess their needs, and if appropriate, safely and effectively treat the patient. Physical therapists are also well-qualified to recognize when patients demonstrate conditions, signs and symptoms that should be evaluated by other health care professionals before therapy is instituted. Physical therapists recognize when it is appropriate to refer patients to these other health care professionals for consultation.

On your first visit, your physical therapist will perform an evaluation to determine what deficits and/or problems you have that can be addressed with physical therapy. The evaluation involves a thorough history, a systems review and tests and measurements that allow the physical therapist to have a more specific understanding of your condition. Your physical therapist will make a clinical judgment as to your diagnosis and prognosis. A treatment program with specific goals aimed at resolving those identified problems will then be developed.

The interventions you receive will depend on what the physical therapist finds in the evaluation. Most physical therapy plans of care will include patient education, therapeutic exercise, functional training in self-care, work, school, community or leisure activities. Other interventions might include manual therapy, electrical stimulation, cold laser light, and mechanical modalities.

Treatment time will vary according to what the physical therapist finds in the evaluation. There is no specific time limit for therapy. Whatever is found to be appropriate during evaluation will become part of the patient's or clients program and the program will be updated as appropriate. Evaluation time is usually 1 to 1 ½ hours. Treatment times may be 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours depending on your condition.

Your physical therapist will perform a meticulous evaluation. You will be reexamined frequently throughout the treatment period. Additionally, the physical therapist always needs to be aware of follow-up visits with your physician.

The answer depends entirely on the physical therapist's evaluation to determine your diagnosis and prognosis.

You are our partner in your recovery. Your physical therapist cannot do it without you! We ask that all patients and clients cooperate by following through with their home exercise programs and instructions. This is extremely important in expediting your recovery.

• Cost of treatment discussed following the initial evaluation. No surprises.
• Co-pays and co-insurance are due at the time of service.
• Discount available for cash paying patients or patient's willing to bill their own insurance company. Assistance with this process is available.
• Most insurance are accepted.
• Payment plans are available.
• We accept checks, cash, Visa and Master Card.
• We do not accept Discover or American Express.