This portal is our way of respecting your time by introducing
ourselves at your convenience, instead of during the day
when you have patients in exam rooms and people pulling from
all directions.
Many patients have
asked us "Why doesn't
my doctor know about you?" The fact is, we have reached
out to hundreds of local doctors, but with all the sales
people driving your staff crazy, we understand how we may
get lost in the mix. We are aware that as a physician you
may have established trust and history with familiar therapists
and facilities in the area. We have also established relationships
with area clinics, hospitals and rehabilitation organizations,
and would like to explain how you can refer your patients
to us for aquatics without jeopardizing sensitive relationships.
Please visit our area called the Co-care
Alliance and you
will understand how you can expand the patients' possibilities.
Over time we have found the common denominator among your
patients is their absolute trust in you, their physician. Our
position is that we are an extension of your care. Translated;
we handle our business at peak performance because your reputation
and your patients outcome depends on it.
Our referral network gives patients access to people with
whom we have established referral trust for our patients.
We have listened to feedback of our patients and based on
their testimony of care, we can refer to them with the confidence
of knowing they are in good hands.
Next Step Physical Therapy is an aquatic enhanced outpatient
physical therapy clinic founded in 2004. We are a private
employee owned organization. We employ therapists who have
practiced a minimum of 8 years in all examples of rehabilitation
settings. |
How can we help your patients?
Our operation
Our Track Record
What types of doctors refer to
us?
Why do we use water?
How do we use water?
Land-based physical therapy
The Balance / Vestibular Program |
Core Services:
Aquatic and land-based:
Orthopedic and neurological Rehabilitation
Vestibular Testing and Therapy
Special Services:
Occupational Therapy
Nutrition
Acupuncture
Acupressure
Special needs pediatric water safety and swim instruction.
Adult Obesity Program
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Correspondence:
- You will know if your patient followed through with your recommendation
of aquatics when you receive their plan of care.
- You will be apprised of their plan and progress on a frequent
basis, from evaluation through discharge.
- Our concierge desk makes it easy for your patients to schedule
follow-up visits to your office.
The tools we use:
A double “endless pool” with a patient lift, Variable
temperature, and an automated air and water quality system.
“First degree” water drive machines for landside
therapeutic exercise.
A typical array of machines for various modalities such as; Electro
stimulation, ultrasound, combo, Hi/Lo tables, Cable systems, cold
laser, etc.
A “VT” balance plate with audio testing capabilities
and computer generated reporting.
Computer generated Evaluation, and note system.
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We are proud of our track record because it’s real.
2004 Discharged / met goals: 91%
Discharged
/ Plateau: 2%
Discharged
/ Non Compliant patient 3%
Discharged
/ Insurance capped 4%
2005 Discharged / met goals: 92%
Discharged
/ Plateau: 3%
Discharged
/ Non Compliant patient 3%
Discharged
/ Insurance capped 2%
2006 Discharged / met goals: 96%
Discharged
/ Plateau: 2%
Discharged
/ Non Compliant patient 1%
Discharged
/ Insurance capped 1%
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What types of doctors refer to us?
Cardiology
Family Practice
Internal medicine
Neurology
Occupational and Industrial medicine
Oncology
Orthopedic surgery
Osteopathy
Pediatrics
Physical Medicine
Pulmonary Disease
Rheumatology
Sports Medicine
Surgery
We invite doctors to consider aquatics, the oldest modality on
earth, for patients needing improved strength, function and comfort.
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Remember Archimedes? His principle states that; “a body
immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight
of the displaced fluid.”
A 200-pound person in a pool submersed to C5 weighs approximately
20 pounds while in the water. “Physics is our best friend”.
Weight bearing on the lower extremities and spine is significantly
reduced while in water, enabling patients to move and work better
because the pain is virtually gone. The control process
is accelerated in water because most patients we see can perform
tasks not otherwise achievable on land.
For most patients a warm pool is the superficial pain buffer
needed to get our work done, however patients who are suffering
from various neurological conditions such as RSD, and MS require
a cool pool to provide comfort while buoyant. We know the
difference and have a system for accommodating all examples.
That is one of the many benefits of being a smaller high performance
facility.
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While in the aquatic mode of treatment, we address ROM, Balance
and coordination, strength, core development and aerobic conditioning.
Our therapists are required to get wet with the patient, for both
application and safety reasons.
From day one, we are working toward getting functional response
on land. Very seldom do we discharge someone who has not
passed functional tests performed dry. As time elapses the patient
is weaned off aquatics and required to measure well on land.
Under normal circumstances we eventually transfer from the aquatic
program to the land-based program unless we are co-treating with
another clinic with our role being exclusive aquatic intervention.
Water is only one of the tools we use in treating people. It simply
breaks the vicious cycle of pain verses function. To some who will
not likely regain ambulatory ability, the water is a place they
can forget about life for a while and a great place for a good
stretch.
To others who are recovering from injury or illness, water is
a great tool for increasing structural integrity without the load
stresses of their own weight.
To those suffering from chronic pain, water is the tool we prefer
to use on many different levels, from helping to identifying compensatory
muscle recruitment, to achieving aerobic exercise.
Our organization is a member of the Aquatic Resources Network
or A.R.N.
We have made their site available to you and invite you visit them
to further educate yourself on the benefits of aquatics for your
patients. Please visit www.aquaticnet.com
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In addition to aquatics we provide traditional land-based physical
therapy. This is the alternative for those who do not want water
and in some cases the only way we treat various conditions.
We have spared no expense in the procurement of all the tools
needed to assist in care. Our therapists are focused on realistic
functional training, joint and soft tissue mobilization, and structural
integrity.
In all our specialties, such as Orthopedic and neurological
rehabilitation, and vestibular therapy, our therapists are leaders
in their field and remain dynamic in their team approach to your
patients’ recovery.
Your patient benefits from the collective ability of our clinic,
as opposed to the abilities of just one person.
Your patient has the expertise of proven multi discipline professionals
to address the core and peripheral issues that present. In addition
to core services, we make available, clinical massage therapy,
acupuncture and acupressure. Our concierge desk arranges these
services for your patient and all activities are done on premise.
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We have a Vestibular Technologies balance plate for screening
and evaluating people who present equilibrium and balance difficulties. As
part of our clinical evaluation, we do screen everyone over the
age of 55.
We are equipped and prepared to provide treatment of true BPPV
in addition to other causes of vestibular dysfunction. Having
the resources to assist the patient in all required tests in
determining the cause of the vestibular condition, additional
testing can be done through physicians in our referral network
or yours.
We have found astounding results treating balance and coordination
in water. It is a safe environment to work in and less fatigue
allows more work. However what is learned in water is
practiced on land in most cases.
Please also see our patient overview regarding our Vestibular
Program - Click Here
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