People are often confused should they see a private practice physical therapist or the facility the physician owns. Often times the physician will state he will be in  better contact with the therapist at his facility. The physician is busy regardless of where you go and several days per week are dedicated to surgery or seeing patients at another location. At Hands On Physical Therapywe  strive hard to be contact with your physician regularly via progress reports and phone calls as needed.

Here are some facts for you to draw your own conclusions about whether you should see the physical therapist at the physician’s facility or go to the private practice physical therapist. Studies have indicated that number of treatment are higher ( the number of physical therapy visits per patient were 39%-45% higher in physician owned clinics) and the costs were higher in physician owned practices as compared to private practice physical therapists. Up to 30-40% higher per patient. (1).(3)

Another study indicates that licensed and nonlicensed providers of physical therapy spend less time with each patient at physician owned practices as compared to private physical therapy practices. (2)

1. Mitchell,J., Scott, E., Physician Ownership of Physical Therapy Services: Effects on Charges, Utilization, Profits, and Service Characteristics, Journal of American Medical Association, 1992.

2. ” Joint Ventures Among Health Care Providers in Florida, ” State of Florida Health Care Cost Containment Board, 1991.

3. Federal Office of Inspector General May 1, 2006-Report calls into question billing processes performed by non-physical therapist owned practices.