It’s time for your first appointment and evaluation with Smith PT+ Rehab, let’s get you prepared for that appointment. Your evaluation will always be completed “on land”, so no need for your swimsuit or trunks quite yet. Please bring your insurance card(s), photo ID, Aquatic Physical Therapy order (if you have a copy), and your latest imaging report if available. Our Patient Experience Coordinator will greet you as you enter the clinic, and collect the appropriate documentation from you, they may also provide you with any additional documents or obtain information we may need. You will be provided with a tour of our facility; to view the pool area and locker rooms, helping to set your expectations for your next appointment following the initial evaluation.
Now it’s time for one of our Physical Therapists to conduct your initial evaluation! Here you two will discuss your medical history, what brought you to us at Aquatic, and any specific goals you may have for your treatment. The Physical Therapist will also analyze your ability at this time; how much motion and or strength you may have, as well as how you may be walking.
These screening tools help develop a long-term plan to address your current movement patterns, restrictions, and weaknesses that may be present. No one person should receive the same protocol, as each person who enters the clinic is unique, no “cookie cutter” approaches here! Every person may have different goals, experiences, and functional levels that contribute to their abilities or level of participation. Therefore it would be inappropriate to expect every patient to perform as another might; we want to create a specific and individualized program just for you!
A review of your plan of care will be included within this evaluation, including how many times a week you will be attending Aquatic Physical Therapy, and you may also receive a few home exercises to begin that day following the evaluation. If appropriate, your physical therapist may also include some hands-on treatment to get a better idea and sense of what your body may be doing, how things may respond to manual techniques, and what to specifically target in the water next time.
After the evaluation has concluded, our Patient Experience Coordinator will be able to assist you with scheduling your future appointments with us as Smith PT+ Aquatics and answer any further questions you may have. Your initial evaluation is complete, and we are looking forward to seeing you at your next appointment with Smith PT+ Aquatics!
