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Patient FAQ
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy is a non-surgical treatment of physical dysfunction or injury by the use of therapeutic exercise and the application of modalities, intended to restore or facilitate normal function or development. By helping you better understand your body and providing therapeutic exercises, we help you return to your normal everyday activities.
How do I become a patient?
Please call us at our Westlake or Galleria/Lakeway clinic, or email us to schedule your first visit. The Patient Care Coordinator will ask you for your:
- Name, Contact Number, Date of Birth
- Referring Doctors Name
- Condition/ Body Part Injured
- Health Insurance Information
Then we will be able to schedule your initial consultation and call on your benefits as a courtesy to you prior to that first appointment. Verification of benefits by Your Personal Best PT does NOT guarantee payment by your insurance company. We strongly advise you to also call and confirm your benefits.
Do I need a doctors referral for physical therapy?
We do require a referral before beginning a treatment program at YPB. Our therapists are able to perform an initial evaluation without a referral, but will not be able to provide any treatment until that referral is obtained. In instances, the law does allow treatment without a referral, but it is very restrictive and complicated. Therefore, we find it in everyone's best interest to obtain a referral before providing treatment. The referral may be written or called in by your physician. If you do not already have a physician, we will be happy to recommend one to you.
Can I meet with a therapist prior to scheduling an appointment?
Please feel free to call and schedule a free consultation today with a YPB therapist. This will allow you to tour our facility and ask our expert therapists any questions you have regarding your condition or possible treatment plans.
How much time will physical therapy take me?
In order for your therapist to provide thorough one-on-one care, your therapy visits will generally be 45 minutes. The exception to this rule is your initial visit which will be closer to 60 minutes. We encourage our patients to arrive on time, or early if necessary, in order to receive the full benefit of these session.
An individual treatment plan will be established at your first visit, based on your doctor's recommendations and your therapist's evaluation. This will outline your therapy goals and the recommended number of visits to reach these goals. The therapist will usually advise 1-3 visits for a certain number of weeks. At the end of this time period, the therapist will do another evaluation to gage your progress and decide if recommending more therapy sessions would be beneficial.
What if I need to cancel an appointment?
Your physician will recommend a treatment plan which involves a certain number of visits per week. We encourage our patients to keep all their scheduled appointments in order to follow your doctor's orders and insure a speedy recovery.
We understand at times you are not able to make your scheduled appointment due to unexpected events or illnesses. When this occurs, please call us at your soonest convenience (we ask for at least 24 hours notice) and have another time in mind that we can reschedule your appointment in order to continue your therapy progress. For repeated cancellations without proper notice, we do have a $20 cancellation fee.
How do I pay my bill?
We accept cash, checks, and credit cards (MasterCard and Visa only). If you have any questions regard your bill, please call our dedicated insurance department at 512.329.6617. Also, click here for more information on reading your bill and understanding your insurance benefits.
What about my regular doctor?
During your physical therapy treatment, we communicate closely with your referring doctor. We provide your doctor with copies of your initial evaluation, re-evaluations, and discharge summary. It is important to note that physical therapy is not a replacement for your doctor. Please continue to consult him or her for your medical needs.
Why do I have to see a Physical Therapist before seeing a Physical Therapy Assistant?
Each physical therapy treatment program will begin with a complete evaluation of your condition. During this visit, you and your therapist will establish your individual therapy goals and a specific treatment plan to achieve these goals. This evaluation can only be done by a certified Physical Therapist (PT). Physical Therapy Assistants are highly trained and knowledgeable but, by law, do not provide evaluations to patients.
What if I have more questions after my therapy program has ended?
Please do not hesitate to call your therapist during your physical therapy program or after its completion. We want you to be comfortable understanding your condition and how to implement a successful home exercise program. We encourage our patients to be active participants during their therapy, becoming more knowledgeable about their condition, and providing feedback to therapists so that they can treat you more effectively.
