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November 2009

Direct Access: A Better Solution
Anthem Clinic Director, Mike Beebe, answers your questions.

What is Direct Access?
It is the opportunity to be evaluated and treated by a licensed Physical Therapist (PT) without first seeing your physician for a prescription. If your insurance company approves payment, it saves money and time, therefore, expediting your treatment, relief and recovery.

What does it mean and why is it needed?
Currently 42 states allow access to physical therapy without physician referral. This represents a freedom to seek therapy services without having to first see your physician. This allows for a reduced cost to the consumer, increases functional outcomes, and more effective physical therapy services, due to reduced delays in receiving care.

Are Physical Therapists qualified to deliver services without referral?
Yes. Physical Therapists (PT’s) are educated at the graduate and Doctorate level and receive extensive education and training in the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention of patients. Since 2002, all physical therapy programs were required to be Master’s level or higher with the ultimate goal of all PT’s trained at the Doctorate level by 2020. PT’s 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 initiated.

What about Direct Access in Arizona?
Access is UNLIMITED. There are no restrictions to access. PT’s in the state shall refer a client/patient to the appropriate provider if the PT has reasonable cause to believe symptoms or conditions are present that require services beyond the scope of practice and if physical therapy is contraindicated.

For more details go to www.apta.org there is much of the site that is accessible to the public.



Megan Thompson, PT, MPT
Meet OSR’s newest addition, Megan Thompson

Megan Thompson earned her BS in Exercise Science while attending University of Massachusetts - Amhert in 2002 while playing Division I Varsity Water Polo.
She then went home to St. Louis, MO where she attended Maryville University - St. Louis where she earned a second BS in Allied Health and a Master’s of Physical Therapy, graduating magna cum laude in 2005. While attending Maryville she was the co-president of the Physical Therapy Club, she coached men’s high school water polo, men’s and women’s swimming and a women’s junior Olympic water polo team. Megan earned her EMT license from University of Missouri - St. Louis in 2003. She then re-located to Southern California and worked as a therapist in an outpatient private practice, working with all levels of athletes from high school to professional and Olympic while continuing her training in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). Megan then moved to the Windy City of Chicago and furthered her experience in outpatient therapy. After one year, she relocated again, this time to Philadelphia, PA, where, she was able to focus on work hardening/conditioning, aquatic therapy and post-surgical rehab. In August of this year, Megan and her boyfriend Chris moved to Arizona to enjoy the sun and warm weather. Megan enjoys working in the outpatient setting, treating all kinds of orthopedic conditions and enhancing athletic performance. She enjoys watching all sports, specifically St. Louis Cardinals Baseball!

OSR Lecture Series
Our first OSR lecture series was a huge success! Thank you for coming out and supporting each clinic director as they worked hard to provide you with the highest level of physical therapy education. We plan to keep our lecture series an ongoing event in which different staff members will be able to present information to you, our valued patients and community members. Stay Tuned!

Happy Anniversary!
We are proud to announce that November marks our 7th anniversary of providing the highest quality rehabilitation to Arizona’s North Valley. Thank you for all of your continued support! We couldn’t have achieved our level of success without you!
Congratulations to Aaron and Kori Williams, Owners of OSR Physical Therapy!