Finding a Physical Therapist

The best way to find a good professional is to ask your friends and doctors for recommendations. Otherwise, you can go the “phone book” route. Here are questions to help you select a good physical therapist:

• Is the therapist a licensed physical therapist?
• What credentials does he have? Has he treated this type of problem before? (Physical therapists have different specialties.)
• Who owns the physical therapy facility: the physical therapist herself, an outside company, doctors or a hospital? It’s best to have independent treatment, and you need to know if a doctor will profit by referring you to a facility in which she has a financial interest.
• Do I need to pay when I visit? Am I billed or does my insurance company pay?
• What does the initial consultation involve?
• What are office hours? Where would I park? Are there individual treatment rooms?
• What type of therapy equipment is available? (Your treatment might require a specific piece of equipment.) This can include ultrasound, hydrotherapy and exercise equipment.
• Will you report on my progress and your evaluation regularly to my other health care providers?
• May I meet with someone on the staff or visit the facility? A physical therapist should be willing to meet with you and answer questions.
• Will I get to discuss my treatment goals with a therapist? Will that person be responsible for my treatment?
• What will my evaluation include?

Last Updated: 8/23/2002
The Johns Hopkins University 1996-2003.  All rights reserved.  This information is not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consultation.