What is the difference between an evaluation and a therapy treatment?
During an evaluation, a patient's condition will be assessed to determine if there is a need for therapy. During a therapy treatment, a patient will work on improving the condition that was identified during the evaluation. During a re-evaluation, a patient's condition will be assessed to determine if there is a need for continuing therapy treatments or adjusting the plan of care.
Do you treat both children and adults?
Yes, our McAllen, Rio Grande City, Edinburg, and Roma clinics treat both children and adult patients.
How do I know if my child needs an evaluation?
An evaluation may be suggested by a physician, a teacher, or other medical professionals. If you have any concerns regarding your child's speech-language or feeding skills, you can also request a speech evaluation. If you have concerns about the development of your child's physical abilities, please contact your physician to obtain a referral (order/prescription) for a physical therapy or occupational therapy evaluation.
How do I know if my child needs an evaluation?
Once you have been referred to therapy by your doctor, you may either call or visit one of our four clinics to set up an evaluation. Let our receptionist know you have been given a prescription for therapy, and you will be scheduled for an evaluation at the clinic which is most convenient for you.
What will happen at my initial evaluation?
The therapist will ask questions to better understand the patient's background/medical history and primary concerns. Standardized tests and informal observation will be used to assess areas of concern. Results and recommendations will be shared with the patient/family at the conclusion of this evaluation.
Is once a week enough?
Although the patient may be scheduled for direct therapy once a week, daily home intervention is essential for therapy progress. Your therapist will provide you with home exercise programs and/or strategies to implement at home.
How much will my therapy cost me?
Everyone's insurance coverage is different. If the patient's insurance requires a co-pay, payment will be expected at each visit. If the patient's insurance requires a co-insurance, the amount owed by the patient will be calculated and collected at the end of each treatment session.
What should I do before the evaluation?
Obtain a doctor's referral (order/prescription) for the evaluation. You may bring it with you to the appointment or have the doctor fax it to one of our four clinics.
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Check with your insurance provider to verify coverage for evaluation and possible treatment. It is important that you understand your benefits and that you verify insurance coverage and any restrictions.
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If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment please call us no later than 24 hours before the scheduled appointment.
What should I do before the evaluation?
Copies of any previous evaluations or progress summaries: Speech/language therapy, occupational/physical therapy, developmental/psychological evaluations, audiology (hearing testing), ENT reports, or an individualized education plan (IEP).
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Doctor's referral, if not previously faxed to the department.
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You may be asked to bring other items to the evaluation. This will be discussed with you when your evaluation is scheduled.
What should I do before the evaluation?
The evaluation will take one hour. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time in order for check-in to be completed prior to the appointment. If you arrive later than 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment, we cannot guarantee that the evaluation can be completed.
What should I do before the evaluation?
The frequency of therapy is based on the patient's needs. Therapy sessions typically range from 45 minutes to an hour. The therapist will consult with the patient or child's parents regarding progress during this time. Sessions may be scheduled on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. How long the patient will attend therapy is dependent on the severity of the patient's deficits. The patient's progress will be re-evaluated approximately every three months to determine the need for continued therapy, or once a month if physical therapy is needed.
How should I dress for therapy?
If at all possible, patients should come to therapy in comfortable clothing and athletic shoes. Often, patients will be asked to lie down, kneel, ride a bike, walk on a treadmill or take off their shoes. Dresses and skirts may be inappropriate for the tasks. The therapist will inform the patient if a specific item of clothing will be needed for the next treatment session.
Who will see me?
You will be evaluated by one of our licensed and highly trained therapists. Our licensed therapist will work closely with an assistant to ensure your plan of care is followed during subsequent visits. We feel it is very important to develop a one-on-one relationship with you to maintain continuity of care. At Aptus, we strive to schedule your treatment with the same therapist. Since one therapist knows your problems best, he/she is the one that will be working closely with you to to assist in a speedy recovery.