Physical Therapy
The Physical Therapy profession has continued to sit atop the fastest growing industries in the nation for the past 10 years. Much of this growth has been attributed to the evolution of physical therapy from a bachelors program to a masters level and now to a doctoring profession requiring a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree for graduating therapists. Furthermore, Physical Therapy has begun a significant transition toward the 'Medical Model' of education where residency and fellowship programs are rapidly developing to foster advancement of specialization within the profession. The substantial progression of professional education within physical therapy has elevated the knowledge and skills of the clinicians that are graduating from the entry level doctoral programs, thus improving quality of care for patients and consumers nationwide.
Physical Therapy in Georgia
Physical therapist are regulated on a federal level as well as a state level. Each state has a specific practice act that dictates how physical therapists can practice within each state. There are some variations between states regarding certain aspects of PT practice.
In the state of Georgia, legislation was passed in July 2015 that allows physical therapists to evaluate and treat a patient without a prescription from a physician. Patients now have the ability to access PT for 8 visits or 21 days following an evaluation by a licensed physical therapist in Georgia before a medical referral is required. If a patient has been diagnosed with a 'chronic' condition, then they have 9 months from the date of the diagnosis to pursue physical therapy services before an additional medical consultation is required for continued treatment.
A patient's ability to directly access their physical therapist is a significant step forward for our profession and for our patients. There is now significant evidence to support that early access to conservative care will improve patient outcomes and decrease recovery times. The new Georgia PT practice act serves to expedite access to PT which improves the potential for positive outcomes. DPT programs have incorporated significant education on differential diagnosis and medical screening to ensure that PTs are adequately equipped to recognize presentations that warrant referral to an appropriate healthcare professional, which may include primary care physicians, physiatrists, specialist physicians, psychiatrists/psychologists, chiropractors, massage therapists, pharmacists, and nutritionists/dietitians, etc.