Frequently Asked Questions
Services
Customer
My Child
How long does an evaluation normally take?
The evaluation normally takes 60 minutes.
What is the difference between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy?
While there is some overlap between these two therapies, physical therapy concerns itself primarily with what are called gross motor skills. That’s where your child builds physical strength and balance and develops a proper gait. Children who need help learning to use adaptive equipment, such as a walker or wheelchair, also benefit from physical therapy. Whereas, occupational therapy focuses more on fine motor skills, such as dressing and feeding oneself, proper coordination, perceptual and play skills. Together, these two therapies work very well together, when needed, to provide the child with the proper skills to interact within the community environment.
What is language therapy?
Language therapy is part of speech therapy. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess and work on what a child understands (receptive language) and how a child communicates their wants, needs and desires (expressive language).
What is managed care?
From the insurance side’s perspective, managed care is used to describe a type of health care focused on helping to reduce costs, while keeping quality of care high. Managed care is a component that your insurance policy may or may not have. If your policy does require managed care, Therapy Kinections needs to submit requests for additional visits post initial evaluation. Either the insurance company or a third part administrator will review the request and determine whether or not additional visits will be provided for continuance of care.
Do you offer free screenings?
Therapy Kinections offers periodic free screenings at our office. Screenings are abbreviated evaluations lasting for up to 15 minutes to determine if a child could benefit from a more formal evaluation. If your child is found to have mild difficulties yet a full evaluation is not recommended, home programming ideas will be discussed so parents can facilitate these skills at home.
Do you provide Group Therapy?
We do provide Group Therapy at Therapy Kinections. Group therapy is very beneficial, especially in the development of social skills. We provide periodic group therapy sessions throughout the year. Please look on our website and Facebook to gain further information. Also, please note that group therapy is strictly private pay.
Will the therapist that evaluates my child be the same therapist that treats my child?
The treating therapist and the evaluating therapist may or may not be the same person. This depends on a variety of factors, including your availability for scheduling and the evaluating therapist’s schedule. We have an excellent team of therapists that are fully qualified to work off of an evaluating therapist’s treatment plan.
What is a Home Exercise Program?
A Home Exercise Program (HEP) is an individualized set of therapeutic exercises that a patient is taught by their Therapist to be completed at home, to complement and reinforce their program in the clinic.
Will my services be covered by insurance?
Therapy Kinections wants to be sure that you have a clear understanding of your insurance benefits. Therefore, we will verify your benefits for you before your initial appointment so that you will be aware of your estimated co-pay or coinsurance, or any deductible that may apply, the number of visits allowed on your plan and whether or not your plan requires a referral or an authorization. Please note that our insurance research is provided as a courtesy to you, but it is not intended to release you from your responsibility for your account balance.
We would like to reiterate that this does not guarantee that your insurance will cover the services you are receiving at Therapy Kinections. Your insurance company will determine if these charges will be covered when they receive an insurance claim from Therapy Kinections, which includes the procedure(s) that took place in our office as well as the applicable diagnosis code(s). Please be sure to review the Explanation of Benefits that you receive from your insurance company which will tell you if they are covering these services or not.
Our administrative staff is here to help you navigate the claims process in any way that we can, and to answer your questions along the way.
Medical coverage will vary, but many health insurance plans cover our services. Please contact your insurance company to verify if your plan offers a benefit for a specific therapy service.
How do I schedule an appointment?
To schedule your first appointment, please contact our office. We will take your contact and insurance information and set-up a tentative first appointment with you at that time. Please have your insurance information handy when you call and be prepared to give us a brief description of the concerns for your child so that we can schedule you with an appropriate therapist. We will then check insurance benefits for you after the call has ended. If we encounter anything that will have an impact on the scheduled appointment, we will call you as soon as possible.
Are there forms for me to fill out before the evaluation?
The answer to that is yes. We have the standard types of forms that you are very familiar with at most medical offices. In addition, we have other forms that are particular to the process of pediatric therapy. We will email you the forms ahead of the initial evaluation so that you do not need to be distracted with them during your first visit to our office. We request that all paperwork be completed in full and returned to us prior to your first appointment. Completed forms can be received by either mailing, personally delivering them, scanning them, or faxing them back to the office at 203-262-9911.
Why does the in-person process begin with an evaluation?
We feel the therapy relationship begins at the initial evaluation. We know that you have questions about your child and you are eager to get started. An evaluation allows the therapist the opportunity to assess your child’s development. This assessment may include standardized testing, observation through play, medical history information, and/or a parent report. In many cases, it includes all four.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Please bring the intake paperwork with you if you were unable to complete it prior to the first appointment. Also, please bring a copy of your insurance card and a method of payment. If you are scheduling a feeding evaluation, you may be advised to bring an assortment of foods that your child will and will not typically eat.
What type of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, check, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and HSA/FSA cards. We are happy to put a card on file for you if you prefer.
Do you offer free screenings?
Therapy Kinections offers periodic free screenings at our office. Screenings are abbreviated evaluations lasting for up to 15 minutes to determine if a child could benefit from a more formal evaluation. If your child is found to have mild difficulties yet a full evaluation is not recommended, home programming ideas will be discussed so parents can facilitate these skills at home.
Can I communicate with my child's classroom teacher/school therapist/etc?
Yes, this is a service that we can provide. The first step is to have you provide Therapy Kinections with an Authorization for the Use or Disclosure of Health Information with the name(s) of the individuals that you give Therapy Kinections authorization to speak to. Next, either you or Therapy Kinections will contact the school to set-up a consultation time. Please note that there may be a fee for this service.
How do I pay for therapy services?
If you have insurance coverage and you have a co-payment, it is your responsibility to pay the co-payment at every visit. If you have a deductible or co-insurance, we will bill you for the visit once the claim has been adjudicated by the insurance company and an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) has been prepared.
If you do not have insurance (or your insurance does not cover the specific therapeutic service), you will be expected to make a full private pay payment for each visit.
Who can I speak with regarding any billing questions?
Please contact our Billing Department at 860-488-0797. They will be happy to help answer any of your questions.
Could I be charged a fee for a last minute cancellation or a no show?
Yes, we do have a last minute cancellation and no show policy. If an appointment is cancelled last minute or a client no shows, it affects three individuals; (1.) the child in receiving their treatment, (2.) the therapist because she now has non-billable time and (3.) anyone who is on a waiting list to receive therapy.
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept nearly all insurances. Based on our years of experience, we find it best to have you call our office and spend around 5 minutes so that we may collect all of the pertinent information that we will need to investigate if your insurance will be covered or not. Yes, we can generally tell you that your insurance will be covered, however, it is best for us to call and check on it ourselves.
How long does an evaluation normally take?
The evaluation normally takes 60 minutes.
Who can make a referral for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or Speech-Language Therapy?
Parents, schools, doctors, and other professionals that work with your child may make a referral for therapy services. In order to process your claims with insurance you may or may not need a doctor’s prescription ~ it is dependent on your insurance plan’s features. For Medicaid, a physician’s referral or prescription is required. Our office staff will obtain the necessary doctor’s orders, if needed.
I’m not sure if my child needs Occupational, Physical or Speech-Language Therapy. What should I do?
If you think there is a problem, you may very well be right. Parents know their children better than anyone and sometimes self-refer. Likewise, children as also referred to our clinic by a child development professional that is trained to identify children who would benefit from the types of services that Therapy Kinections provides. This includes pediatricians, teachers, daycare centers and other medical and mental health care providers who work with children. We are happy to discuss your concerns with you over the phone and help direct you to the appropriate services, or schedule a screening if you are unsure. If you would like to speak with a therapist about your concerns, you can book a free consultation. A free consultation consists of a 15 minute phone call where you can talk with one of our therapists about your concerns without committing to a full evaluation. The therapist will ask questions about your child’s development, address any concerns you may have, and provide recommendations for your child.
Will I be expected to be with my child during their evaluation?
That is a very good question and it has a variety of answers. Factors in this decision making process include the age of the child, the reason for the evaluation, whether or not the therapist may want to ask the parent questions during the evaluation, etc. The therapist will guide you as to what they recommend throughout the process.
Will I be able to talk to the therapist privately without my child being present?
If privacy is preferred, please let your child’s therapist know before the session begins if you would like to speak privately so that she can plan the session accordingly. If your child cannot be left alone, consider bringing another adult or older child with you to attend to the child. A phone consultation is another option that is available to discuss your child’s progress.
What can I expect at my child’s initial therapy visit?
this by open lines of communication between the therapist and the family. At the initial visit, we start with a determining a thorough baseline for your child (the evaluation). Once the evaluation is complete, it will be scored and a written report will be developed. During this report development and assessment, it will be determined if treatment is necessary and a plan of care will be developed accordingly.
How can I prepare my child for their first therapy visit?
We know that your child may feel anxious about their visit, so we will do everything we can to help him to feel comfortable from the moment they arrive. Our therapy areas are very child-friendly with bright, colorful spaces filled with toys and games. If your child is young, telling them that they are going to see a “gym doctor” because it feels like they are playing in a gym.
How can an Occupational Therapist help my child?
Occupational therapy assists your child in reaching developmental milestones to make them more functional and independent in their daily lives. An occupational therapist may look at your child’s fine and gross motor skills, perception, hand-eye coordination, handwriting ability, as well as daily living and sensory processing skills. An occupational therapist will work to improve these skills, to help increase your child’s independence at home, at school and during play.
How will my child’s therapist be chosen?
After your child’s initial evaluation, your child will be assigned to their therapist who will typically remain with your child throughout their treatment process. Our therapists are well-versed in all of our pediatric therapy disciplines and will ensure your child receives the care they need. We give your child the best chance for a well-rounded and healthy development.
How can a Physical Therapist help my child?
Physical therapy helps to increase a child’s mobility, range of motion, strength, endurance, postural support and balance, so that they are better able to play and move at home at school and in the community.
Do you involve parents in the treatment process?
Yes. Parents are a very important part of the treatment program. Parent education is also an important part of the treatment process. Home exercise programs (HEP’s) are sometimes provided to the parent to increase carryover in all settings and help the child be more successful in reaching their goals. You play a major role in your child’s success, so we will coach you on activities to work on at home. For your child’s maximum therapeutic success, it is very important to continue working on the activities learned in therapy at home.
May I bring other children to my child’s therapy session?
We have experienced that the best means to provide the most effective therapy to your child is to not have siblings in the treatment room. Your child and you will benefit most from the therapy session if they are not distracted by the caring of other children. If you must bring other children, we ask that you supervise them closely at all times. Please bring toys or books to keep them busy. For safety purposes, siblings are not permitted to play on therapy equipment or with toys used in therapy.
How much of my child’s speech should I (and others) be able to understand at this age?
Typically, a child should be 100% intelligible to unfamiliar listeners by age 4. For younger children, unfamiliar listeners should be able to understand roughly 25% age 1, 50% by age 2, and 75% by age 3.
How do you determine when the child is ready to be discharged from therapy services?
We track your child’s progress on an on-going basis and we communicate with parents regularly. Once we are confident that milestones are being consistently met to ensure independence, we will work with you regarding a discharge plan. In other words, we may taper the therapy down from once a week to once every other week or once a month, all depending on the status of the child’s progress.
What is the typical turnaround time from when the initial evaluation is conducted to when my child’s first therapy session occurs?
The typical turnaround time from when the initial evaluation is conducted to when my child’s first therapy session occurs is one to two weeks.
Will the therapist that evaluates my child be the same therapist that treats my child?
The treating therapist and the evaluating therapist may or may not be the same person. This depends on a variety of factors, including your availability for scheduling and the evaluating therapist’s schedule. We have an excellent team of therapists that are fully qualified to work off of an evaluating therapist’s treatment plan.
Will I be able to be involved in my child’s therapy?
Yes, that’s actually a very important part of your child’s development. Just like you, we want to give your child every opportunity to be as independent as possible. It’s important that we work with our families so they can continue their child’s improvement at home and learn more about their child’s needs.
How important is continuity of care for my child?
Continuity of care is very important to help a child succeed to their fullest potential. What do we mean by continuity of care? Delivering continuity of care means providing uninterrupted healthcare that is as seamless as possible. It helps babies, children and young people receive care that is focused around their clinical needs, preferences and ideally that allows them to build a therapeutic relationship with their healthcare professionals.
This, in turn, can improve their overall healthcare experience. Continuity of care is important for all babies, children and young people but is most particularly important for those with ongoing medical conditions or complex needs.
Let’s use the analogy of a marathon runner. If a marathon runner is practicing to run a marathon, they have a exercise regiment to help them optimally train. If they digress from that exercise regiment, they will not receive the peak benefit from their training before running the marathon. The same holds true regarding missing even one week of therapy.
How can a Speech-Language Therapist help my child?
Speech therapy supports the development of effective communication. Treatment may focus on receptive language disorders, expressive language disorders, language development, stuttering, literacy, fluency, articulation, augmentative communication, voice, apraxia, swallowing, play skills, and social skills. A speech-language pathologist helps to improve your child’s ability to communicate needs and wants more effectively on a daily basis.
Do I need to be present for my child’s therapy session?
As a parent or legal guardian, you must be present at the clinic for your child’s initial therapy evaluation. This is important so that you can give consent for your child to be treated. Being present will give the therapist a chance to speak with you about your concerns for your child. The more present you are, the better the means of communication between the therapist and the parent or legal guardian. Present, in this situation, is defined as either being present within the treatment room or present within the waiting room. The therapist will determine the best method of being present. One of our primary goals is to give your entire family skills and knowledge to help your child gain the greatest benefit from therapy.
How long will my child’s session be?
Typical a therapy session is for 40 minutes. In special cases, the duration may last longer then 40 minutes.
How long will my child be seen for therapy?
The purpose of therapy is to help your child become as independent as possible in normal daily activities. Every child’s treatment plan is different. While your therapist is unlikely to be able to tell you exactly how many sessions your child will need, we strive to keep you aware of your child’s goals, progress, and prognosis throughout the treatment process. Our therapists will work with you to develop the most appropriate and effective plan of care for your child. From the day your child enters therapy, our primary goal is to help your entire family develop the skills and knowledge to help your child continue to thrive both during and after the course of treatment ends.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my child’s therapy?
You can call us at any time to discuss your child and the therapy services they are receiving.
Can I take photographs or videotape my child’s therapy session?
Please note that we take patient privacy concerns (HIPAA) very seriously. Please ask before taking a photo or recording. You may be asked to wait until a task is finished, or to assure that no other patients are in the area, or to allow the therapist to step out of the picture.
My child receives therapy at school. Should they have additional services?
If parents are comfortable with their child’s rate of progress in the school setting, they may not feel the need to increase the service level. However, many children do benefit from increased therapy. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your concerns and see how we may be of assistance.
