Home Health physical therapy services are delivered in the privacy of a patient's residence. It is important that you get to know and understand the salient points of physical therapy. In addition, just like any other medical treatment, there are benefits and risks involved in this treatment. We shall explain it also here in this informed consent and you can also ask if you have further questions or you need clarification. We will answer and explain them to you. Before a procedure shall be done, we will make sure to explain them to you first. Please note that you have the right to decline any part of the treatment before or during treatment. You have the right to ask your physical therapist about the treatment plan and discuss the potential risks and benefits of the treatment.

What is Physical Therapy? Physical therapy is a rehabilitation method that helps patients gain or regain their physical activities that they lost or that they are incapable of doing due to defects either from birth or resulting from injuries or disease. There are various methods of treatments to help one to regain and/or improve his or her physical function. 

How Physical Therapy is Done. Physical therapy is often done with the help of guided exercises. Some use additional agents such as heat or cold compress, sound waves, electricity, or mechanical devices or machines. This will depend on the issues that are needed to be addressed and the technology available for the physical therapist to utilize.

The Risks. As physical therapy intends to resolve the problem that the person is experiencing due to illness or injury, there are some risks that may arise during the course of the treatment such as pain and discomfort during the process of therapy. Stretching and twisting may cause some swelling and soreness of stiff muscles. This is normal. There are therapies that may use hot or cold compresses in order to relieve the pain during therapy. Your physician may prescribe drugs in order to help you with the pain and swelling while going through the process of physical therapy.  Please take note that some can experience pain and discomfort that may reduce one's motivation to continue due to pain or lack of manifesting results. It is important that the person continues with the therapy if it is too early to conclude the results. It would be best to discuss these matters with your physical therapist.

Expectations. There are no guaranteed expectations when one undergoes physical therapy treatment. This depends on the situation. But when one undergoes a physical therapy program, it is intended that one will be able to return to his or her prior level of functioning or develop a method to continue what was possible to be performed before the injury that is no longer possible after being permanently injured. Physical therapy  When going through the program, it is important that the patient is truthful with what he or she thinks or feels. Proper communication is important for the progress of the patient.

Confidentiality Under the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPPA”), we are required that all medical information of every individual be kept securely and shall not be disclosed to anyone. This allows the patient to have the right on how his or her information and how it shall be used. The records we acquire from you shall be used for managing health care by health care providers and will be used for reference for payment or reimbursement for services such as billing or collection. We may also use your information for the assessment and improvement of our activities and business operations. 

CONSENT I have read all the information provided here or it has been read to me. I understand the contents of this informative consent form. I understand the risks involved in physical therapy and agree to participate in the procedures to be conducted and comply with the established plan of care set forth by my physical therapist. I have had the opportunity to ask questions and all of which were answered to me accordingly.