The goals of physical therapy to educate clients regarding their present condition, to reduce pain, to improve movement, strength, and balance, with the ultimate goal of restoration of normal functional level, remain unchanged. Couple these goals with THE pt GROUP's commitment to high standards of care that emphasize a progressive "hands-on" approach, active involvement of the client through progressive, appropriate exercise, developing of client independence through home exercise and education, all encompassed within our quality outcome, cost-effective and self-monitoring system, and you have the high quality physical therapy product we at THE pt GROUP provide.

This combination at THE pt GROUP is critically important in the treatment of today's Medicare, managed care and workers' compensation clients. Early intervention of physical therapy treatment allows a client's specific problems to be timely assessed and appropriately treated promoting an earlier, positive outcome. Early intervention of physical therapy can also assist in identification of clients who may require additional medical intervention through their inability to progress in their therapy program. At a minimum, establishment of an appropriate and safe exercise program in conjunction with client education regarding specific needs is critical in giving clients the tools to help themselves when a physical therapy treatment program beyond one visit is not indicated or approved.

For these reasons physical therapy remains an integral and critical component in the treatment of Medicare, managed care and workers' compensation clients. We at THE pt GROUP remain keenly aware of the necessary high quality physical therapy services necessary to maximize the positive outcome to these clients. Medicare guidelines of a maximum dollar amount available each calendar year for outpatient physical therapy treatment and physical therapy coverage for 30 days after each physician's office visit in which a prescription for physical therapy was written, clearly defines the vital importance of each physical therapy visit. We work with both the client and physician to ensure Medicare physical therapy rehabilitation standards are met during treatment at our offices.

Managed care guidelines ultimately challenge both the client and physical therapist to achieve their planned goals in ever-reducing frequencies and durations of physical therapy. We work with both the client and primary care physician in obtaining the necessary physical therapy visits to achieve planned goals. Our physical therapists will request necessary additional visits when clinically indicated to achieve planned goals. Once again, the vital importance of each physical therapy visit is clear in achieving planned goals.

Workers' compensation emphasizes early, safe return to work in some capacity for the injured client. Our functionally active approach blends well with preparing the injured worker to return to work safely, ultimately to their pre-injury position. Our back-to-work program includes Functional Capacity Evaluations, Work Conditioning Programs, Work Hardening Programs, Lifestyle Behavioral Management and in-house monitoring of all workers' compensation clients, and reflects our commitment to quality outcomes and cost-effective use of physical therapy services for the injured worker.

The role of physical therapy in the rehabilitative process remains strong and clear. Emphasis on goal achievement, restoration of function, education and independence in a home exercise program can lead to positive outcomes with the use of therapy.