I would like to thank you for your interest and the assistance you provided to me. The quality of health care in the United States is the greatest in the world. Because of this it is one of the largest portions in anyone's budget. Insurance companies and patients alike are looking for ways to cut the cost of medical care while still maintaining the highest quality possible. Direct access is one program that cuts costs while maintaining a superior level of care.
Direct access allows a patient to see a physical therapist without the referral from a physician.
This gives the patient an alternative entry point into the current system of medical practice. Currently there are 46 states that allow for some form of direct access. Because of this, the physical therapy profession has had to become more accountable for their practice. Competition between clinics has increased the level of care and it has also has brought down the prices for treatment. Identifying direct access as a cost effective means of treatment and exhibiting how to introduce it into the clinic is the aim of this project.