Patient Information

You are the most important member of your own health care team and you DO have a choice as to what physical therapy clinic you want to go to.  Your physician may refer you for physical therapy either in the physician’s office, or to another facility.  You have the right to choose your own physical therapist and you are not obligated to receive physical therapy in any specific facility.

DIRECT ACCESS

Florida State Law allows direct access to physical therapy, meaning that you can come to therapy without a doctor’s prescription for 30 days.  After that, we do need a prescription from your doctor to continue treatment.  Often times, if you do not have a prescription for therapy, we can simply fax your evaluation documents over to your doctor to sign after your initial visit.  This will take the place of a prescription.

Patient Intake Form:   Save time on your first visit by printing this form, fill it out, and bring to your first appointment

SSP Booklet: If you are part of our Spinal Solutions Program you are given one of these forms at your initial evaluation.

Depression Survey

Insurances: White Sands accepts health plans from most insurance carriers as well as Medicare. Some of the more popular plans that we accept are listed, but since the list periodically changes, we encourage you to call us if you don’t see your plan.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR INSURANCE, PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO VERIFY YOUR BENEFITS.

We believe that quality health care should be accessible to everyone, so if you have a high-deductible health plan or are not insured, we also offer affordable options for working together.

• Medicare
• AARP Medicare Complete PPO
• MVP USA Care PPO
• Railroad Medicare
• Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
• Auto Insurance PIP
• Tri Care
• ATNEA PPO
• CIGNA PPO
• HUMANA PPO
• UHC PPO
• Federal Workers Comp Ins.
• All PFFS Insurance
• Multiplan Inc.
• Evolutions
• Prime Health
• USA Managed Care
• Rockport Network
• TRPN- Three Rivers Provider Network
• Stratose Provider Network

Q: What should I expect from the first visit?

A: During your first visit, you will be meeting one of our skilled physical therapists who will evaluate your posture, range of motion, strength, joint mobility and sensations. You and your therapist will discuss your pain or limitations and how this affects your daily functions. A unique plan of care will then be designed by the therapist.

Q: Do I need a script to come to you?

A: You don’t need a script to be evaluated, but you may be required to have one prior to beginning therapy. Your first evaluation will be faxed to your doctor for a signature. When that evaluation is signed, it acts as a prescription which allows the therapist to treat you.

Q: How long does an evaluation take?

A: Your evaluation will be one hour.

Q: How long does a treatment session take?

A: Treatments vary from 2 to 3 times a week, and range from 30 minutes to 2 hours per treatment. This will be discussed and explained during your first evaluation.

Q: Do you accept my insurance?

A: White Sands accepts health plans from most insurance carriers (link to insurance plans)

Q: How much does this cost?

A: As a courtesy to our patients, we will verify your health benefits prior to your first appointment to find out your benefits for physical therapy. If you do not have insurance we offer a reduced cash plan. Please contact our office for more information on our fees.

Q: What should I wear?

A: You should wear loose, comfortable clothing with comfortable shoes if you are doing therapy on land. Please wear your bathing suit under your clothes if you are doing both land and pool therapy. If only doing pool therapy, you can come in your bathing suit with a cover up.  We suggest that you bring a change of clothes to change into once finished with your pool session.

Q: Will therapy hurt?

A: In most cases, we don’t want to cause any more strain on the body so we tend lighten up the exercise or hands-on therapy when you start to experience pain.  However, in other cases, we need to push you to a certain point and getting there may hurt.  We do ask for a lot of feedback and depending on that, we decide what needs to be done.  We will listen to you – we promise!

Q: What temperature is the water?

A: The pool is kept at a therapeutic temperature, between 92 to 93°Fahrenheit. The warm water increases blood flow to the muscles, allowing for ease of movement.

Q: What about the decompression machines?

A: The machines are part of what make our spinal program so successful.  You will discuss this with the therapist in your evaluation to find out what is appropriate for your situation.

Q: Do I have to go in the pool?

A: Nobody has to do anything.  When you meet the therapist in your evaluation you will decide together what the best plan is for you.  Not every therapy is appropriate for everybody.

Q: Will I get my hair wet?

You do not go underwater in the pool. When in the deep end, you will have floats on so as long as your hair is short or tied up, you will not get your hair wet.  Some people wear shower caps just in case.

Q: Can I wear my hearing aids?

A: You won’t be going under water with any of your exercises, but wearing your hearing aids into the water is up to you.

Q: Is there Chlorine in your pool?

A: We now have a salt water pool so there is no chlorine added.  The salt water is much better for your skin, eyes and lungs!

Q: Can I wear shoes in the water?

A: You can wear water shoes in the water, but it is not necessary.

Q: Are towels provided?

A: Please bring your own towel. If you forget a towel, we do have one that you can borrow.

Q: What’s the difference between this and massage therapy?

A: In physical therapy, we work on specific muscle groups that correlate to your injury. We don’t perform hands-on therapy on the entire body and it usually isn’t a feel-good massage; we work on 1 or 2 body parts at a time to improve strength, flexibility and healing to provide optimal rehabilitation.

Q: I’ve been to other therapists or chiropractors- why would this work?

A:  The reason WS is successful where other treatments haven’t worked is because of our unique therapies.  We have the largest indoor therapy pool in the county and know how to use it to get results that you couldn’t with other therapies.  In your evaluation, the therapist will explain how that works.

Q: Does the pool have a lifeguard or instructor?  I don’t swim.

A: We don’t use the pool for swimming.   We have aquatics therapists that are in the water with you the entire time teaching you and making sure you’re doing it correctly.  You are always safe and supervised throughout the whole session. You do not need to know how to swim with aquatic therapy.  You will have floats on in the deep end and a licensed therapist will be in the pool with you for all exercises.

What happens after therapy ends?

If therapy is helping, we offer a maintenance program.

Q: Can I come in and use your pool to swim?

A: This isn’t like a YMCA or gym membership.  We use our pool only for supervised aquatic therapy geared toward a certain condition.

My previous experiences with physical therapy were not negative; however, my treatment at the White Sands Physical Therapy & Aquatics was outstanding due to the knowledge, skill, dedication and cheerfulness of their therapists. The VAX-D spinal decompression machine, stretching, manual manipulation, massage, and particularly the aquatic exercise were not only enjoyable, but soon freed me of lumbar back pain caused by a herniated disc. By following-up with home exercise instruction, I am getting stronger every day.  Who knew PT was fun!
I am pleased to enthusiastically recommend the services of White Sands with gratitude and without hesitation.
Elaine G.

I have serious herniated disk problem. In last few months I visited number of chiropractors and tried many treatments. Everything failed. I was ready to schedule the surgery but wanted to wait until after Holidays. That was end of November. Since I had few weeks until surgery I was still looking at other options and learned about White Sands aquatic physical therapy. Based on my experiences, I was very sceptical but decided to try it for 1 month. I had therapy 3 times a week and was doing assigned exercises at home. After 1 month my pain is gone. I still need to do maintenance therapies and exercises but I am amazed with results. I do not need surgery. This therapy works and is the best alternative to avoid risky and costly surgery.

I recommend this place to all persons with back problems.

Stan S

Manipulation + Decompression + Warm Water Therapy + Maintenance = One Happy Camper! The care and treatment of my body (spinal stenosis) was thorough, compassionate and healing. Their attention to my needs exceeded my expectation. I would not hesitate to recommend White Sands Therapy to anyone who needs PT. John and his staff are great to work with!

Barbara D.

Shortly before leaving for Florida, I experienced a very discomforting sciatic pain. I went to a physical therapist in my home town with no change in my condition.

Fortunately, I discovered White Sands in going on-line, and made an appointment.

I have never been more satisfied with any professional treatment than that which I have received at White Sands. The pain which was so severe at the beginning that it kept me up at night has been virtually completed eliminated.

I recommend anyone who is in the Sarasota area and suffers such pain contact White Sands. You will not be disappointed.

Stanley R.

After nearly a year of agonizing shooting pain, I felt immediate relief by the end of my first treatment. I highly recommend White Sands Physical Therapy & Aquatics.

Regards,

Stefanie B

I have had lower back pain for many years and I have had Physical Therapy at least four separate times over the last several years. So when I came to White Sands I was very skeptical, I was thinking to myself, here we go another bout of therapy that will not help. Before I started at White Sands I had pain from my lower back all the way down my leg to my big toe. For the first two weeks I did not have much of a change in my pain, but then the pain relief from the therapy really kicked in and my pain dropped dramatically. At White Sands they do not use stationary bikes or treadmills like at other clinics. They use their hands to gently mobilize the spine and spinal muscles. White Sands also has a 93° pool that is deep enough to do exercises with floating. I can now stand and walk with minimal pain. I am thankful to the staff at White Sands for getting my pain back down to minimal.

Robert from Sarasota

White Sands had a peaceful and non-clinical atmosphere about it which immediately made me comfortable.

Every inch of the facility is spotless and the staff is professional but also very friendly and pleasant.  They are attentive to every patient and provide information on what they’re doing and why and are willing and able to answer any of your questions.

I feel so much better than when I arrived there. I know that I will always have to be careful and may have some limitations but I will find different ways of doing some things to maintain my lifestyle.

I have been singing your praises since I started and have run into many of your former patients who feel just as I do.

I can’t imagine going anywhere else should I require physical therapy again.

Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,

Sue