Invest in Your Health

Everyone’s looking for ways to skimp these days. A little less of this. No more of that. We’re all finding ways to cut back now so we can have more later.  

But if there’s one area where you don’t have to – or want to – skimp on, it’s your health.

Healthcare programs, like physical therapy, offer you cost-effective solutions for investing in your long-term health.

“People that delay or ignore treatment of an injury or painful symptoms in order to save money are being somewhat shortsighted’ says Jim Schiller, Senior Vice President of Compliance and Clinical Services at Physiotherapy Associates. “Untreated injuries will end up costing more in the long run, not only financially, but also emotionally and time.”

Schiller, and other healthcare experts with Physiotherapy Associates, the nation’s second largest provider of outpatient rehabilitation services, encourage you to make smart healthcare spending decisions today so that you enjoy a future that is healthier for you and your wallet.

They offer this information as part of a healthcare stimulus plan for your body, your health and your life:

Just say no

Prescription drugs are pricey when they become a long-term solution to managing pain. And often times, medications can’t fix your pain, they can only relieve it or cover up the pain. Not to mention that medications require refills, must be administered in the proper doses at the right time.  Medications always have unwanted side effects. Physical therapy is more than a pain management alternative; it’s a pain management solution. With physical therapy, you can save on those trips to the pharmacy, and the only side effect you’ll experience is improved living!

Save on surgery

Recovering from any surgery can be tough, painful and often times results in lost time at work or away from other activities you enjoy. Plus surgeries can be expensive for you or your health plan. Physical therapy offers the benefits of restoring function, relieving pain and leading to healthier living without the use of invasive surgery. Consider physical therapy early when dealing with an injury or experiencing pain. You’ll enjoy the savings later.

Outsmart tomorrow

It might be easy to overlook a little pain or discomfort now, but what about next month? Or 10 years from now? A simple injury, when not properly rehabilitated early, can become a chronic ailment that prevents you from enjoying the later years of life. In fact, overlooked injuries can sometimes become unfixable and cause more permanent disability. Early injury prevention with physical therapy will cost less to address your injuries or pain now then you would spend to address more chronic pain or problems down the road.

Work it out

A debilitating injury or pain can stop you from doing something that is becoming increasingly more important in today’s economy – earning a fair living for you and your family. When jobs are  more valuable than ever, don’t let an untreated injury  result in pain that could put you at risk at work. Physical therapy can treat pain that might keep you from being healthy on the job so that you can secure your health, your job and your paycheck!

And if looking for a new job is in your future, you’ll want to look your best, feel your best and perform your best. In today’s competitive hiring market, employers want to hire healthy employees who are up to any challenge. Talk to a physical therapist if you are living with pain that might keep you from being the best job candidate out there.

Find a partner

Rehabilitating an injury and enjoying healthier, pain-free living on a budget can be a challenge, so finding the right healthcare partner is important. There are lots of options for physical therapy providers out there –there are independent therapists, hospital-based therapy departments, physician-operated therapy programs and outpatient physical therapy companies. When selecting a physical therapy provider to fit your  needs – and your budget – consider the following:

Stay close to home

Select a provider who has multiple locations in your surrounding area. That way you are sure to find one that is close to your home. This can help you save on gas and save on wear-and-tear of your vehicle. Plus, don’t forget your most valuable commodity – time. A provider with multiple locations is more likely to have early morning or evening hours at at least some of their locations so that you can schedule appointments before or after work hours and not have to use valuable vacation or paid-time-off.

Get better faster

Many physical therapy providers offer the same services, but not everyone can offer the same skill level of the therapists who provide those services.. The more skilled the therapist, the faster they are able to diagnose your injury or the root of your pain, get you on the right treatment schedule and ultimately get you back to doing what you enjoy. A faster recovery by an educated therapist will save you time and money spent on unnecessary office co-pays, loss time away from work or other activities and the chance of re-injury later on. Look for a physical therapy company who invests in the ongoing education and advancement of their staff so that you can enjoy the benefits of a skilled therapist.

Make sure you’re covered

Make sure to call ahead and confirm that your insurance plan is accepted before starting physical therapy. Many therapy providers work hard to partner with as many insurance plans as possible and are often expanding their network of participating plans so that patients can realize very little out-of-pocket expense for physical therapy. Co-pays are generally kept low, and therapy treatment is typically covered for multiple visits.

Know your options

If a unique financial hardship is standing between you and healthier living, many physical therapy companies have the resources to offer you options so that you can complete a full rehabilitation program and enjoy the benefits of therapy without over-extending your finances. If you feel that physical therapy could benefit you but are worried that the associated costs would be a challenging hardship, talk to a therapist about the options that can help keep you on a road to recovery.