Frequently Asked Questions

General

What are the hours?
Hours of operation vary from facility to facility. You can find updated hours in our Locations.

When you contact the office to make your appointment, the scheduler will assist you with identifying times that meet your scheduling needs.
Do I have to go to Peoria for care?

No, you do not have to travel to Peoria to receive care. We have several clinics in communities surrounding the greater Peoria area that provide high-quality care.

Also, there are numerous OSF Rehabilitation facilities throughout Illinois and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that provide rehabilitation services. 

Does the doctor have to order therapy to start?

Yes. Under our policy, you need to have an order for therapy prior to the initial evaluation.

Do you communicate with my medical doctor?

The referring physician is sent a copy of the initial evaluation and your plan of care. You will be re-evaluated on a monthly basis. When you see your medical doctor, we will provide you with a progress report with our recommendations.

How long do therapists go to school?

Physical therapy programs are now graduating students with a clinical doctorate degree. Graduate school is three years for most physical therapy programs in addition to undergraduate studies.

In general, physical therapists attend school for six to eight years. Occupational therapists attend school for six years, graduating with either a masters or clinical doctorate degree.

Education requirements for speech pathologists are similar with providers holding either a masters or doctoral degree.

What is a SNF and what kind of rehabilitation is available there?

SNF is an abbreviation for Skilled Nursing Facility. Following an inpatient stay, some individuals may not be appropriate to discharge to their previous living situation.

A SNF is a location where patients can receive supervised care to assist with the recovery process following a surgical procedure or general hospital stay.

Rehabilitation services are provided at SNF’s to assist with improving upon overall physical function and ensure a safe transition to your prior living situation.

The type of therapeutic interventions prescribed will vary based off your current condition.

Appointment

How long will my appointment take?

Initial evaluation and treatment lasts approximately one hour. Treatment sessions thereafter can range from 30 minutes to one hour depending on the type of condition.

What should I bring with me?

Once you've met with your therapist, they will tell you what you need to bring for additional appointments.

For your first appointment, we do ask that you bring a few things with you to get started.

Will my appointment be painful?

The goal of the initial evaluation is to determine the appropriate intervention for your particular condition.

In order to do so, your therapist may elect to perform a series of strength and range-of-motion tests during this initial session, ­which may be uncomfortable for some.

Based off of the initial evaluation, a customized treatment plan targeted toward improving your symptoms and overall physical function will be developed.

Does this pain ever go away?

In some cases, complete resolution of pain does not always occur. But for many, pain resolution is likely. Research shows that the sooner you start therapy after a symptom begins, the better the outcomes.

When chronic pain exists, complete pain relief is not always possible.  However, improvements in pain, physical function and quality of life can definitely occur with therapy interventions.

Billing & Insurance

What is the cost of rehabilitation?

Costs vary based off your insurance coverage. We recommend you check with your insurance company prior to initiating therapy.

Is rehabilitation covered by insurance?

Most insurance plans cover outpatient therapy.

Please call the office where you’re receiving your therapy to inquire about insurances we accept.

Be sure to check on your benefits and understand your coverage before your first visit. Talk to our receptionist so we can help you clarify your insurance coverage.

You may have a deductible and/or a co-payment for each visit.

We do not currently collect the co-payments at the time of your visit. They are billed to you.

What do I have to do at home?

The ultimate goal of physical therapy is to encourage independence and treating yourself.  Therefore, exercises will often be prescribed by your therapist to assist with facilitating progress to supplement formal treatment sessions.

Home exercises are tailored specifically for you based off of numerous factors.

Treatment

How is therapy going to help me?

Therapy can help in numerous ways: improvements in pain, motion, strength, physical function and overall quality of life can occur with therapeutic interventions.

Reduction in falls and prevention of future injury, along with maintaining independence in the home are other possible benefits.

What are the differences between therapies?

Physical, occupational and speech therapists have extensive training and provide care to individuals young and old with sports related, orthopedic and neurologic conditions, as well as everything in between.

There are similarities between the professions, yet differences do exist.

Physical therapists evaluate and treat movement-related disorders of the entire body (spine, shoulder, hip, foot etc.).

Occupational therapists may direct their skill at upper extremity conditions, and are extensively trained in the evaluation and treatment of performing activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, eating, etc.

Speech pathologists specialize in treating communication, voice and swallowing disorders.

Do I stay with one therapist?

Schedulers do their best to keep you with one therapist, but there may be times when this is not possible.

At some of our clinics, you may split time between your evaluating therapist and an assistant.

However, if you prefer to stay with one therapist, every effort will be made to meet your wishes.

Do you offer individualized programs?

Yes, interventions prescribed by our therapists are individualized to meet your specific needs.

What should I expect in therapy?

On your first day, your therapist conduct an initial evaluation. During this session, the therapist will listen to your concerns and conducts a physical examination.

Once the examination is completed, the therapist provides education regarding his/her findings and prescribes a program tailored specifically to your needs.

The sessions following consists primarily of treatments deemed appropriate based off examination findings and your treatment response.

What is expected of me?

First and foremost, your attendance is expected when treatment sessions are scheduled. Willingness to try treatments prescribed by your therapist is appreciated and performing your home exercise program is expected.

Finally, open and honest communication with your therapist is one of the most important parts of your care.

This shared decision making in developing your plan of care improves outcomes.