October 16, 2013 at 1:00 am Michiganians need direct access to physical therapy Daniel J. Smith Last week, the Michigan Physical Therapy Association gathered for its fall conference. Among issues on its agenda was how to move Michigan to join the 48 other U.S. states that allow patients direct access to physical therapy services. This step would not only increase patients’ freedom to take advantage of healthcare that meets their individual needs, but would also help control the cost of effective healthcare. Currently, Michigan residents in need of physical therapy must first obtain a physician referral to schedule a treatment session with a physical therapist. This system means that it can take up to several weeks just to obtain this initial appointment — a tragic situation for patients suffering with pain — and that a costly physician appointment, which typically only lasts a few minutes, is required. Physical therapy has emerged as a specialty within the rapidly expanding medical field. It is a licensed, professional degree, requiring several years of classroom learning and clinical experience. Physical therapists have proven their abilities to help patients with impaired mobility due to disabilities, injuries and illnesses, regain mobility. Yet, some traditional physicians and other healthcare professionals are loath to accept physical therapists as equal partners in contributing to patient health, placing themselves between the patient and access to the care. The reason is obvious and has been seen before in other fields: physical therapists are seen as competition by other healthcare providers in the space including physicians and chiropractors. One argument for restricting direct access to physical therapy is that it would increase healthcare costs due to higher insurance premiums required from an increase in malpractice claims. However, research shows that this fear is unsubstantiated. A 2007 study by Robert Sandstrom in the Journal of Allied Health, and a separate study conducted in 2012 by Jane Pendergast, Stephanie Kliethermes, Janet Freburger and Pamela Duffy in Health Services Research, found that patients who receive direct physical therapy outpatient care often require fewer visits, resulting in lower healthcare costs. As Michigan continues to search for ways to reduce growing healthcare costs through restructuring, we must keep in mind that one of the most effective methods for reducing cost and improving healthcare is through specialization and competition. Direct access to physical therapy saves on unnecessary doctor’s visits, administrative costs, and wait times. Specialists, such as physical therapists, when working as equals with other healthcare professionals, can help provide more personalized, timely and direct care for patients. As Michigan works to improve its healthcare structure, it must resist powerful special interest groups lobbying to prevent competition. Some 48 other states have recognized the right of patients to have direct access to physical therapy; it is high time that Michigan From The Detroit News: detroitnews/article/20131016/OPINION01/310160006#ixzz2ivMZOyZS
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 12:21:24 +0000