Direct Access and Self Referral To Physical Therapy Findings From A Global Survey of World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) 2013

Direct access and self-referral
to physical therapy: findings

from a global survey of WCPT
member organisations.
2013
Direct access and self-referral to physical therapy: findings

from a global survey of WCPT member organisations.
Summary
Background: Direct access to physical therapy services is advocated for in WCPTs policies, but the
extent to which it exists worldwide was unknown.
Objective: To map the presence of direct access and self-referral to physical therapy services among
WPCTs member organisations in the context of physical therapy practice and health systems.
Method: An on-line survey was developed and refined following a workshop in the European region
of WCPT in 2010. Data was gathered over a 12 month period from July 2010-July 2011. Data was
analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis was used to analyse open-ended responses
to identify themes and patterns. Responses were followed up with member organisations where
required.
Results: A response rate of 68% was achieved. Direct access and self-referral to physical therapy
was reported by 58% of respondents. Entry level education equipped physical therapists for direct
access and self-referral in 69% of WCPTs member organisations. When self-referring privately to
physical therapy most insurance companies would not provide reimbursement without a physician
referral. National physical therapy associations (72%) and the public (84%) were seen to be in
support of direct access and self-referral, with less support from policy makers (35%) and physicians
(16%). Physical therapists ability to assess, diagnose and refer on was more prevalent in the
presence of direct access and self-referral.
Conclusions: Professional legislation, the medical profession, politicians and policy makers can act
as both barriers and facilitators for direct access and self-referral. Evidence for clinical and cost
effectiveness and examples of good practice, are seen as vital resources that could be shared
internationally and professional leadership has an important role in facilitating change and advocacy.
Tables
The results from across the member organisations have been collated by region and presented in the
following tables. Consent from member organisations has been obtained to share this information
among WCPTs member organisations. The tables are not for public dissemination.
Publications
Two papers have been accepted for peer-reviewed publication:
Bury TJ, Stokes EK. A Global View of Direct Access and Patient Self-Referral for Physical Therapy:
Implications for the Profession. Physical Therapy In Press scheduled for April 2013 issue
Bury TJ, Stokes EK. Direct access and patient/client self-referral to physiotherapy: a review of
contemporary practice within the European Union. Physiotherapy In Press
Once these are available online details will be made available to member organisations and via the
WCPT website on the direct access/self-referral page: http://wcpt.org/node/34062
Enquiries
Please direct all enquiries to Tracy Bury, Director Professional Policy tbury@wcpt.org
World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2013.
January 2013
Scope of practice
WCPT Member Organisation:
Cameroon: Cameroon Society of

Physiotherapy
Ethiopia: Ethiopian
Physiotherapists Association
Kenya: Kenya Society of
Physiotherapists
Malawi: Physiotherapy
Association of Malawi
Namibia: Namibian Society of
Physiotherapy
Nigeria: Nigeria Society of
Physiotherapy
Rwanda: Association of
Rwandan Physiotherapy
Page 1 of 11
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the Africa Region of WCPT
National
legislation
present?
Can service
users can refer
Self-referral in In the presence
themselves to
public and/or of self-referral
PT without a
private
are there
medical/
settings?
limitations?
physician
referral?
Are PTs
permitted to
assess?
Are PTs
permitted to
diagnose?
Education
Are PTs
permitted to
treat?
Are PTs permitted Are PTs permitted

to refer on to other
to offer
specialties/
preventative
services?
advice?
Do the expected
competencies of
graduates from
entry level
physical therapy
programmes
prepare them to
accept selfreferrals on
qualification?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private & public
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private *
Yes
No
Support for Self-referral
Public in
favour of
direct
access/selfreferral?
Doctors/
physicians in
favour of
direct
Don't know
Yes
No
Don't know
Yes
No
Limited support
Don't know
Yes
Don't know
Is unsure
Don't know
Yes
No
Completely
supportive
No
Yes
No
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
No
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Don't know
Degree of support Politicians/policy

Post- entry level
for direct
makers in favour
education
access/self
of direct
requirements for
referral to physical
access/selfself-referral
therapy from MO
referral?
Completely
supportive
Completely
supportive
Period supervised
practice
Period CPD
Masters level
Yes
Yes
South Africa: South African

Society of Physiotherapy
Yes
Yes
Private & public
Swaziland: Association of
Physiotherapists of Swaziland
No
Yes
Private & public
Public - limited
implementation
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Zambia: Zambia Society of

Physiotherapy
Yes
Yes
Private & public
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe
Physiotherapy Association
Yes
Yes
Private & public
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
NB: Results are presented as submitted by member organisations.

* Variations in different settings may reflect differences in the legislation jurisdiction (eg covers public services only), service provision (eg preventative advice only) and/or national limitations as noted
World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2013
Compulsory
community service
year on qualifying
before they will
receive
"independant
practitioner" status.
Period supervised
practice
Period CPD
Masters level
January 2013
Page 2 of 11
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the Africa Region of WCPT
Perceived strength of facilitators for direct access and patient/client self-referral

8
Number
Number
Perceived strength of barriers to direct acess and patient/client slef-referral

8
4
3
4
3
4-5 major
4-5 major
3 moderate
1
1-2 minor
3 moderate
1
1-2 minor
Barriers
Barriers
Direct access and self-referral to physical therapy worldwide

100%
90%
80%
70%
AWP Asia Western

Pacific
NAC North
America Caribbean
SA South America
60%
50%
Self-referral permitted
No self-referral
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Worldwide
Africa
AWP
Europe
NAC
SA
Region
January 2013
Scope of practice
Page 3 of 11
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the Asia Western Pacific Region of WCPT
National
legislation
present?
Education
Can service
users can refer Self-referral
Are PTs
Are PTs
themselves to PT in public
Are PTs
In the presence of selfpermitted permitted
without a
and/or
permitted
referral are there limitations?
to
to
medical/
private
to treat?
assess? diagnose?
physician
settings?
referral?
Private - some 3rd party

providers do require a
Private &
referral from a physician
public
prior to treatment for full
rebates
Are PTs
permitted to
refer on to
other
specialties/
services?
Are PTs
permitted to
offer
preventative
advice?
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Yes
Australia: Australian
Yes
Yes
Cambodia: Cambodian
Physical Therapy Association
Yes
Yes
No
Fiji: Fiji Physiotherapy

Association
No
Yes
Private &
public
Japan: Japanese Physical

Therapy Association
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Macau: Macau Physical

Therapists Association
Yes
Yes
Private &
public
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Zealand: The New

Zealand Society of
Physiotherapists
Yes
Yes
Private &
public
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Oman: Omani Physiotherapy

Association
Yes
No
Private *
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Taiwan: The Physical

Therapy Association of the
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Thailand: The Physical

Therapy Association of
Thailand
Yes
Yes
Private &
public
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
United Arab Emirates:

Emirates Physiotherapy
Society
No
No
Private *
Not allowed by law but

takes place in a few settings
- practitioner & client take
risk
Do the expected
competencies of
graduates from
entry level
physical therapy
programmes
prepare them to
qualification?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Self-referral not covered by

insurance payments
Post- entry level

education
requirements for
self-referral
Period of CPD
Completely
supportive
Doctors/
physicians in
favour of direct
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
Don't know
Yes
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
Don't know
Yes
Completely
supportive
No
Yes
No
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
No
No
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Don't know
Period of CPD
Masters level


for direct
makers in favour Public in favour of
access/self referral
of direct
direct access/selfto physical therapy
from MO
referral?
January 2013
Perceived strength of barriers to direct access and patient/client self-referral
Perceived strength of facilitators for direct access and patient/client self-referral
10
10
Number
Number
Page 4 of 11
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the Asia Western Pacific Region of WCPT
5
4
4-5 major
3 moderate
5
4
4-5 major
3 moderate
1-2 minor
1-2 minor
Facilitators
Barriers

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
No self-referral
40%
30%
AWP Asia Western

Pacific
NAC North America
Caribbean
SA South America
20%
10%
0%
Worldwide
Africa
AWP
Europe
NAC
SA
January 2013
Page 5 of 11
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the European Region of WCPT
Scope of practice
Austria: Austrian Physiotherapy

Association
Belgium: Axxon, Physical
Therapy in Belgium
Croatia: Croatian Council of
Physiotherapists
Czech Republic: Union of
Physiotherapists of the Czech
Republic
Denmark: The Association of
Danish Physiotherapists
Estonia: Estonian Association of
Physiotherapists
National
legislation
present?
Can service
Are PTs
Are PTs
permitted
In the presence of selfpermitted
and/or
without a
to
to assess?
private
medical/
diagnose?
settings?
physician
referral?
Are PTs
permitted to
refer on to
other
specialties/
services?
Are PTs
permitted to
offer
preventative
advice?
Post- entry level

education
requirements for
self-referral

for direct
direct access/selfof direct
to physical
referral?
therapy from MO
Doctors/
physicians in
favour of direct
Completely
supportive
Completely
supportive
Completely
supportive
No
Don't know
No
Don't know
Don't know
Don't know
No
Yes
No
Yes
Is unsure
No
Don't know
No
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
No
Completely
supportive
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private
Private - patients have to be

self-funding
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Private *
Private - prevention only
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Private - any conditions

treated, but no reimbursement
from national social or private
insurance
Public - specialised medical
care and occupational health
require a physician referral
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Don't know
Don't know
Private - restricted to
prevention, health education,
comfort massages, osteopathy
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Limited support
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Period of CPD
Completely
supportive
No
Yes
No
Period of supervised
practice
Period of CPD
Is unsure
Don't know
Don't know
No
Yes
Yes
Private &
public
France: Federation Francaise

des Masseurs Kinesitherapeutes
Reeducateurs (FFMKR)
Yes
Yes
Private
Germany: Deutscher Verband

fuer Physiotherapie
Yes
No
No
Hungary: Association of
Hungarian Physiotherapists
Iceland: Association of Icelandic
Physiotherapists
Ireland: Irish Society of
Chartered Physiotherapists
Israel: Israeli Association of
Physiotherapists
Italy: Associazione Italiana
Fisioterapisti (AIFI)
Lebanon: Order of
Physiotherapists in Lebanon
Liechtenstein:
Physiotherapeuten Verband
Furstentum Liechtenstein
Lithuania: Lithuanian
Kinezitherapy Association
Luxembourg: Association
Luxembourgeoise Des
Kinesitherapeutes
Malta: Malta Association of
Physiotherapists
Montenegro: Physiotherapists'
Association of Montenegro
Netherlands: Koninklijk
Nederlands Genootschap Voor
Fysiotherapie
Norway: Norwegian
Physiotherapist Association
Are PTs
permitted
to treat?
Yes
Finland: Finnish Association of

Physiotherapists
Greece: Panhellenic Physical

Therapy Association
Education
Do the expected
competencies of
graduates from
entry level
physical therapy
programmes
prepare them to
qualification?
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Private *
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
practice
Period of CPD
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private &
public
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
practice
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Period of CPD
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Private &
public
Yes
No
Private *
No
Yes
Private
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private
Private - not for pregnant

women, accident victims and
electrophysical therapies
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
practice
Period of CPD
Don't know
Yes
No
Don't know
Don't know
Don't know
Yes
Yes
Yes
Don't know
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Not supportive
Don't know
Yes
No
Completely
supportive
No
Yes
No
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Limited support
No
Don't know
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Don't know
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Limited support
Don't know
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Completely
supportive
Completely
supportive
Completely
supportive
Completely
supportive
No
Masters level
practice
January 2013
Page 6 of 11
Scope of practice
Poland: Polish Society of

Physiotherapy
Portugal: Associao Portugesa
de Fisioterapeutas
Romania: Roumanian
Federation for Physiotherapy
(FRAK)
Serbia: Association of
Physiotherapists of Serbia
National
legislation
present?
Education
Can service
Are PTs
Are PTs
permitted
In the presence of selfpermitted
and/or
without a
to
to assess?
private
medical/
diagnose?
settings?
physician
referral?
Are PTs
permitted
to treat?
Are PTs
permitted to
refer on to
other
specialties/
services?
Are PTs
permitted to
offer
preventative
advice?
Do the expected
competencies of
graduates from
entry level
physical therapy
programmes
prepare them to
qualification?
Yes
No
Private *
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private &
public
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
Slovenia: Slovenian Association

of Physiotherapists
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Spain: Asociacin Espaola de

Fisioterapeutas
Yes
No
Private *
Private - insurance companies

require medical referral
Yes
Yes
Yes
Private &
public
Public - not to hospital and

special care settings - this
requires referral
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sweden: Legitimerade
Sjukgymnasters Riksforbund
Switzerland: Schweizer
Physiotherapie Verband
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Private *
Syria: Syrian Physical Therapy

Association
Yes
Yes
Private
Turkey: Turkish Physiotherapy

Association
No
No
No
United Kingdom: Chartered

Society of Physiotherapy
Yes
Yes
Private &
public
Yes
No
Yes

still require medical referral for
reimbursement
Public - in theory no, but local
issues eg commissioning
determine clinical areas
covered
Yes
Post- entry level

education
requirements for
self-referral
Masters level
Specialisation

for direct
direct access/selfof direct
to physical
referral?
therapy from MO
Completely
supportive
Completely
supportive
Is unsure
practice
Doctors/
physicians in
favour of direct
Yes
Yes
Don't know
Don't know
Yes
No
Don't know
Yes
No
Yes
No
Limited support
Don't know
Don't know
No
Yes
Yes
Limited support
Don't know
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Don't know
Yes
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
Don't know
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
practice
Period of CPD
Masters level
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Limited support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Yes
Yes
Yes

January 2013
Perceived strength of facilitators for direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy
35
30
30
25
25
20
20
Number
Number
Pereceived strength of barriers to direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy
35
15
15
4-5 major
4-5 major
3 moderate
10
3 moderate
10
1-2 minor
1-2 minor
5
Privateinsuranceco
Yes
Barriers
Yes
Don'tknow
Facilitators

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
No self-referral
40%
30%
AWP Asia Western
Pacific
NAC North America
Caribbean
SA South America
20%
10%
0%
Worldwide
Africa
Page 7 of 11
AWP
Europe
NAC
SA
January 2013
Page 8 of 11
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the North America Caribbean Region of WCPT
Scope of practice
WCPT Member
Organisation:
Bahamas: Bahamas
Association of
Physiotherapists
National
legislation
present?
Yes
Can service
Selfusers can refer
referral in
themselves to
public In the presence of self-referral are there
PT without a
and/or limitations?
medical/
private
physician
settings?
referral?
No
Canada: Canadian
No
Yes
Private
Guatemala: Asociacion
Nacional de Fisioterapistas
de Guatemala
No
Yes
Private
Jamaica: Jamaica
Yes
No
Puerto Rico: Associacion

Puertorriquena de
Fisioterapia
Yes
No
Private
Private - limitations relate primarily to

reimbursement from insurance companies.
Although there is no legislation restricting direct
access, it is primarily people with musculoskeletal
conditions or injuries that present themselves to
PT directly. Individuals with other PT issues
continue to be primarily referred through
physician referral.
Public - Canada Health Act positions physicians
as the lead on patient care, including referral to
PT services in the public system. There are some
exceptions which relate more to the hospital rules,
rather than legislation.
Private - service users can self-refer to PTs, but

neither the profession's Code of Ethics nor the
law permits "treatment". PTs who perform
ergonomic assessments and who offer
preventative advice are allowed to do so without a
referral as the law does not precisely define that
in the scope of treatment.
Education
Do the expected
competencies of
graduates from
Doctors/
entry level
Post- entry level Degree of support for Politicians/policy Public in favour
physicians in
physical therapy
education
direct access/self makers in favour of
of direct
favour of direct
programmes
requirements for referral to physical direct access/selfaccess/selfaccess/selfprepare them to
self-referral
therapy from MO
referral?
referral?
referral?
qualification?
Are PTs
permitted to
assess?
Are PTs
permitted to
diagnose?
Are PTs
permitted to
treat?
Are PTs
permitted to
refer on to
other
specialties/
services?
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Are PTs
permitted to
offer
preventative
advice?
Period of
supervised
practice
Period of CPD
Masters level
Limited support
Don't know
Don't know
Don't know
Yes
Completely supportive
Don't know
Yes
Don't know
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Limited support
Don't know
Yes
Don't know
No
Yes
Yes
Don't know
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Period of
supervised
practice
Period of CPD
Suriname: Surinaamse
Vereniging Voor
Fysiotherapie
Yes
Yes
Private & Private - limitations on the number of treatments

public
someone can receive in a year
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Trinidad and Tobago:

Physiotherapy Association of
Trinidad and Tobago
Yes
No
Private *
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Limited support
No
Yes
No
Yes
Private/public - majority of states allow legal

recognition of self-referral to PTs in all settings,
including in private practice. Insurance programs,
both private and public, have varied degrees of
recognition of self-referral for the purpose of
payment of services. A few states prohibit selfreferral for certain physical therapist interventions
(manipulation, sharp debridement). Other
limitations are prohibition of medical diagnosis,
Private &
direct access for a limited time frame, mandated
public
referral to a physician when patient presents
outside the scope of physical therapy practice. All
institutions in which PTs practice can have
institution-based procedures that restrict selfreferral to PT such as hospital by-laws. PTs can
serve on primary care teams and serve as a
primary entry into the health care delivery system;
the US Department of Defense is one of the
primary examples.
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Don't know
Don't know
United States of America:

American Physical Therapy
Association
Yes

January 2013
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the North America Caribbean Region of WCPT
6
Number
Number
Pereceived strength of barriers to direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy
Page 9 of 11
5
4
5
4
4-5 major
4-5 major
3 moderate
3 moderate
1-2 minor
1-2 minor
Facilitators
Barriers

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
No self-referral
40%
30%
AWP Asia Western
Pacific
NAC North
America Caribbean
SA South America
20%
10%
0%
Worldwide
Africa
AWP
Europe
NAC
Region
SA
January 2013
Scope of practice
Page 10 of 11
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the South America Region of WCPT
National
legislation
present?
Private - insurance comanies

may set limits on sessions
Public- varies across regions
Are PTs
permitted to
diagnose?
Are PTs
permitted to
treat?
Are PTs
permitted to
refer on to
other
specialties/
services?
Are PTs
permitted to
offer
preventative
advice?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
No
Yes
Don't know
Yes
Not supportive
Yes
Yes
No
Can service
Are PTs
In the presence of selfwithout a
and/or
permitted to
medical/
private
assess?
physician
settings?
referral?
Private &
public
Education
Do the expected
competencies of
graduates from
entry level
physical therapy
programmes
prepare them to
qualification?
Post- entry level

education
requirements for
self-referral

Doctors/
for direct
makers in favour Public in favour of physicians in
access/self
of direct
direct access/self- favour of direct
referral to physical
access/selftherapy from MO
referral?
referral?
Brazil: Associacao de
Fisioterapeutas do Brasil
Yes
Yes
Chile: Colegio de Kinesiologos

de Chile
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Colombia: Asociacion
Colombiana de Fisioterapia
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Mexico: Asociacin Mexicana

de Fisioterapia
Yes
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Completely
supportive
Don't know
Yes
No
Peru: Asociacion Peruana De

Terapistas Fisicos
No
No
Private *
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Limited support
Yes
Yes
No
Uruguay: Asociacion de
Fisioterapeutas del Uruguay
No
Yes
Private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Venezuela: Federacion
Venezolana de Colegios de
Fisioterapeutas
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Not supportive
Don't know
Yes
No

don't allow patients to go
directly to physical therapy
treatment, they need a referral.
practice

January 2013
Profile of direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy in the South America Region of WCPT
Page 11 of 11
Perceived strength of barriers to direct access and patient/client self-referral to physical therapy
6
5
Private *
4
Number
Number
4-5 major
4-5 major
3 moderate
3 moderate
1
1-2 minor
1-2 minor
Facilitators
Barriers

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
No self-referral
40%
30%
AWP Asia Western

Pacific
NAC North
America Caribbean
SA South America
20%
10%
0%
Worldwide
Africa
AWP
Europe
NAC
Region
SA

Direct Access and Self Referral To Physical Therapy Findings From A Global Survey of World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) 2013

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Direct Access and Self Referral To Physical Therapy Findings From A Global Survey of World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) 2013

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Direct access and self-referral

to physical therapy: findings

Direct access and self-referral to physical therapy: findings

WCPT Member Organisation:

Cameroon: Cameroon Society of

Are PTs permitted Are PTs permitted

Private & public

Support for Self-referral

Degree of support Politicians/policy

South Africa: South African

Private & public

Private & public

Zambia: Zambia Society of

Private & public

Private & public

NB: Results are presented as submitted by member organisations.

World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2013

Perceived strength of facilitators for direct access and patient/client self-referral

Perceived strength of barriers to direct acess and patient/client slef-referral

Direct access and self-referral to physical therapy worldwide

AWP Asia Western

World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2013

WCPT Member Organisation:

Private - some 3rd party

Fiji: Fiji Physiotherapy

Japan: Japanese Physical

Macau: Macau Physical

New Zealand: The New

Oman: Omani Physiotherapy

Taiwan: The Physical

Thailand: The Physical

United Arab Emirates:

Not allowed by law but

Support for Self-referral

Self-referral not covered by

Post- entry level

NB: Results are presented as submitted by member organisations.

World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2013

Degree of support Politicians/policy

Perceived strength of barriers to direct access and patient/client self-referral

Perceived strength of facilitators for direct access and patient/client self-referral

Direct access and self-referral to physical therapy worldwide

AWP Asia Western

World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2013

WCPT Member Organisation:

Austria: Austrian Physiotherapy

Post- entry level

Support for Self-referral

Degree of support Politicians/policy

Private - patients have to be

Private - prevention only

Private - any conditions

France: Federation Francaise

Germany: Deutscher Verband

Finland: Finnish Association of

Greece: Panhellenic Physical

Private - not for pregnant

World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2013

WCPT Member Organisation:

Poland: Polish Society of

Slovenia: Slovenian Association

Spain: Asociacin Espaola de

Private - insurance companies