What should I expect on the first visit?

When you arrive at Wake Forest Physical Therapy, you will be greeted as you come in the front door. Please check in at the front desk.  You may be asked for any completed paperwork or doctor's orders. If you have not already downloaded and completed the new patient intake forms (which you can download from this website), you will be asked to complete those forms. Once the intake forms are completed, you will then be seen by a physical therapist for an evaluation and an initial treatment based upon the findings of the evaluation. From this initial visit, your therapist will develop a treatment program customized to your individual problem and goals.

What should I bring with me to the first visit?

You should bring any paperwork that your doctor may have given you, copies of any specific reports from xrays or MRIs (if you have any) and any completed new patient forms (downloaded from this website) .  Also, bring your insurance card and a form of ID for verification purposes.

How should I dress?

How you should dress depends upon what type of injury or surgery you had.  For example, if you hurt your knee or had knee surgery, bring or wear a pair of shorts.  If you hurt your shoulder or had shoulder surgery, wear a loose shirt or a tank top.  You can also bring a change of clothes and change once you arrive.  We want you to be comfortable, so dress comfortably.  If that means wearing a T-shirt, then do so. If you are being seen for a foot and ankle problems, bring or wear the shoes you most commonly wear or that give you the most problem wearing.

How long will each session last?

Typically, your first visit is the longest, especially if you have not downloaded and completed the new patient paper work.  Plan to allow an hour to an hour and a half for the first visit because of the new patient paperwork, the initial evaluation and treatment.  Plan to arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

Who pays for the treatment?

At Wake Forest Physical Therapy, we submit the claims for each visit to your insurance, but as you know, most people have a copay, deductible or a percentage that your insurance company will leave as your responsibility.  So, if you have a copay or a percentage that your insurance company leaves as your responsibility, you can expect to have to pay this each time you come in for a treatment.  If you have a deductible, we will ask you to make some payment each time you come in until your responsibility is met (but we will not ask for the entire deductible up front).  If you have two insurances, we will submit claims on your behalf to both insurances, and if the secondary insurance does not completely cover the claims, then any remainder will be your responsibility, but we typically have to wait until all the claims have been processed before we can determine what amount, if any, remains as your responsibility.

Will I see the same therapist each time? 

The physical therapist that sees you initially will be the therapist that folllows you throughout the course of your care at Wake Forest Physical Therapy.  Typically, we like patients to stay with the same therapist, but depending upon your schedule and the therapist's schedule, you may have to see another therapist.  For example, say you can only attend physical therapy on Tuesdays and Saturdays but your therapist is not working every Saturday, then you will most likely be seen by the therapist that is scheduled to work that Saturday. But be rest assured that each therapist at Wake Forest Physical Therapy is licensed.  We do not use aids or techs to treat our patients.  Sometimes we also co-treat patients, meaning that you may be seen by two therapists depending upon the extent of your injury or problems.  Nothing like getting that extra attention.