Physical Therapy
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Physical Therapy Procedures
The Physical Therapy Department provides quality physical therapy services to UCSB students. All patients in physical therapy have been referred for treatment by Student Health Service physicians, nurse practitioners or dentists or by physicians, osteopaths, chiropractors or dentists outside of SHS that are licensed to practice in the State of California.
Patients are seen on an appointment basis with a fee for services. On the first visit, the therapist completes an evaluation in order to determine goals and a treatment plan within the guidelines of the referral provided. (See attached evaluation forms). On subsequent visits, treatment is provided in accordance with the treatment plan.
The initial evaluation will include date of visit, diagnosis, purpose of visit, history, pertinent subjective information, mechanism of injury, prior related injuries, pertinent x-ray or lab results, functional status, ROM, strength, palpation results and prior level of activity as appropriate. An assessment is then documented of problems and goals. Each patient visit is recorded in the physical therapy chart by the physical therapist. Documented information for continuing visits (see attached form) may include date, treatment given, current objective or subjective status, response to treatment and changes in treatment plan as appropriate.
The physical therapists provide physical therapy treatment that may consist of various forms of heat, cryotherapy, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, mobilization techniques, therapeutic exercise and patient education. A strong emphasis is placed on patient education with this population in order to assist them in maintaining and promoting their own health.
Modalities and procedures are administered by registered physical therapists or occasionally by a medical assistant. The medical assistant is directly supervised by the physical therapist on premises for patient care duties. Volunteers assist in preparation of modalities and are directly supervised by a physical therapist when they perform these duties. All volunteers are trained in the specific duties required of them prior to helping with patients. A training checklist of duties is kept for each volunteer demonstrating training completed.
Charting and Care of Charts
On a patient’s first visit, the patient’s medical chart is provided for the therapist along with physical therapy evaluation forms. All notes and charts are kept with the therapist or on their desks to protect patient confidentiality.
The therapist writes and signs a short note in the medical chart after the initial evaluation noting the date, department and recommendation for frequency and duration of visits. All medical charts are returned to medical files no later than the end of the treatment day. Physical Therapy notes are kept in the department chart files when not in use in the reception area of the department. In this way they are not accessible by patients. The notes on patients for the treatment day are kept with the therapist or on their desk for reference and documentation and to protect patient confidentiality. The medical assistant in physical therapy is responsible for the storage and retrieval of physical therapy records in the department. Upon discharge from physical therapy, the charts are sent to medical files to be kept with the patient’s medical records.
When necessary, summaries of patient care elsewhere are obtained by written permission of the patient. When such records are received, they are initialed by the physical therapist.
Hours of Operation
The department is open during fall, winter and spring quarters while school is in session. Hours of operation are 8:00am-12: 00pm and 1:00-5:00pm with patient care beginning at 8:15am, Monday through Friday. The department is closed for the entire summer.
Department Maintenance
Medical assistants are responsible for the cleaning of whirlpools, hot pack covers and the hydrocollator tanks, weights, treatment tables, and exercise equipment. Whirlpool cleaning procedures are attached. Hot pack covers are cleaned at least quarterly. Weights and treatment tables are wiped off with alcohol on a regular basis. Exercise equipment is also cleaned on a regular basis. Treatment tables in the booth area are changed after each patient.
Scheduling Patients
New patients are scheduled for their initial evaluation and treatment as soon as possible on the appropriate therapists’ schedule. Patients are informed of the charges when they are scheduled. If they are scheduling in person they read and sign and retain a copy of the charging procedure and cost. If they schedule by telephone the procedure is explained by telephone and the written explanation is signed on the first visit. Patients are offered a written copy of their scheduled visits, which includes the phone number of the department so that they may call in the event of a need to cancel or change an appointment.
Chronic Patients
In order to accommodate the needs of our patients, those patients with chronic spine problems who have had an opportunity for treatment in the past will be limited to 1 visit per month. Exceptions to this policy may be made with the approval of the therapist and the referring physician.
Evaluation of an Established Patient
If a patient is being seen by the physical therapist and a new problem or treatment area than the original treatment area is identified, the therapist may schedule an evaluation for that problem. The therapist will then discuss the evaluation results with the appropriate SHS provider to obtain a written referral for treatment if indicated.