What is the history of Blue Ridge Physical Therapy?
Blue Ridge Physical Therapy opened its doors on October 16th, 2000 and is owned by Bill Melchione, DPT, MS, OCS, Astym Cert. Dr. Melchione is a Rockbridge County resident.

What do I need to do in order to be treated by a Physical Therapist in Virginia?
In the Commonwealth of Virginia you can attend physical therapy in several ways:

• If you have a referral from a physician. The initial evaluation and subsequent treatment can be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement and Blue Ridge Physical Therapy will submit your claim for you.
• If you are not a Medicare subscriber you may choose to see a physical therapist directly in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• If you choose to see a physical therapist directly you will be asked to sign an Attestation Form designed by the Board of Physical Therapy which lists the physician you will consult for evaluation if your pain does not improve in a reasonable time frame.
• We will likely be able to bill your insurance company if you are seen directly, however each plan varies in its coverage.

What should I wear to Physical Therapy?
Most patients prefer to wear loose fitting t-shirts and either shorts or sweat pants. If we are treating you for a lower extremity injury or surgery we will need you to wear shorts. We have a changing facility here so you can feel free to bring in your exercise clothes and change here while safely storing your other clothes.

Is Physical Therapy painful?
Contrary to common belief physical therapy is rarely painful. In most cases pain is caused by inflammation (swelling). If you exercise with pain you often increase the inflammation and further your pain. That is obviously not the goal of treatment. We will go to great lengths to ensure that you experience as little pain or discomfort as possible while undergoing your care.

How long is each treatment session?
The initial visit is usually the longest as we will complete the registration process, perform the initial evaluation, review in detail with you the findings of the exam, discuss treatment options and initiate your care. This usually takes about two hours with subsequent visits usually taking between an hour and an hour and one half.

Why is it important to complete my home exercise program as often as I am instructed to by the Physical Therapist?
Exercise is the foundation of you care now and in the future. If you attend physical therapy three times per week and only perform your exercise program then, your weekly total of exercise sessions will be three. If you attend physical therapy three times per week and perform this program at home at least one time per day, your weekly total of exercise sessions will be ten. You will benefit far greater from ten sessions of exercise than from three. You will also be less likely to develop independence in performance of your home exercise program if you do not practice at home.

In addition to providing care for orthopedic and sports related injuries and surgeries does Blue Ridge Physical Therapy offer any other specialty areas of treatment?
Yes. Blue Ridge Physical Therapy also offers care in the following area: We fabricate custom orthotics in our office using several different orthotic systems and we also offer treatment for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).

What are the operating hours of Blue Ridge Physical Therapy?
Blue Ridge Physical Therapy is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Our first appointment is at 8:00 AM and our last appointment is 4:30 PM. However, special arrangements can be made for a later appointment if needed.

How long does it take to get an appointment?
Blue Ridge Physical Therapy makes every attempt to ensure an appointment within two business days, however many factors impact scheduling of an initial appointment.

What is your Cancellation Policy?
We expect you to keep all of your appointments; however should you need to cancel please note that we require a 24-hour notice. If you fail to provide 24 hour notice of an appointment you are unable to attend you will likely be charged $30.00 for a missed appointment. If you miss three consecutive appointments we may need to discontinue your treatment.

What do I do in my insurance company requires me to obtain a pre-authorization?
We will assist you in securing a pre-authorization for physical therapy by working with your physician’s office and your insurance company. Simply contact our business office upon referral so that we can obtain your benefit information and complete the process prior to your first office visit.

What do I do if my insurance company only authorizes a few treatment sessions and I need more?
We will contact your insurance company for you and attempt to obtain authorization for the remainder of the visits you require. Due to many issues such as plan benefits, insurer discretion, or excessive processing time we may not be able to obtain authorization for future visits. If his becomes the case, we will discuss this with you in advance. We realize you do not any surprises when it come to your insurance coverage and will do everything we can to help you understand your benefits in the beginning and throughout your care.

What is the role of a Physical Therapist in your care?
A physical therapist is a member of the healthcare team that concentrates on minimizing pain and disability while restoring functional ability. We are a very hands-on, exercise based profession who works with your physician and potential other member of your healthcare team. Our goal is not only to restore your functional ability, but also to develop a level of independence in performance of your self-care program. Once these goals are accomplished you will be able to care for yourself and no longer need the services of physical therapist on a continual basis.

Are Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants licensed professionals?
Yes, all physical therapists and physical therapy assistants practicing in Virginia must be licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

What is the education background of a Physical Therapist?
Over the last ten years the educational requirements of a physical therapist have changed somewhat. Currently a physical therapist must complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree at an American Physical Therapy Association Accredited College or University. This requires a minimum of 7 years of full time education.

What is the educational background of a Physical Therapist assistant?
Currently a physical therapist assistant must complete an Associates Degree in Physical Therapy at an American Physical Therapy Association Accredited College.

What is a Health Status Survey and why are they used at Blue Ridge Physical Therapy?
A Health Status Survey is a questionnaire that is designed to assess functional limitation. Functional limitation are the day to day activities that you may not be able to perform secondary to your pain, injury or surgery. We use these surveys because we are concerned about what your perception of your pain and functional limitations are. These surveys offer an insightful look at what your concerns are, where the treatment goals should be focused and are a very meaningful measure of progress. The primary functional outcome system used at BRPT is called FOTO. This is a nationwide functional outcome database company with the largest database in the world concerning physical therapy outcomes.  This system assists us in establishing your prognosis, and also allows us to measure our effectiveness and efficiency  in your care at BRPT as compared to the best practices throughout the United States. We are currently ranked in the top 6% of all participating practices nationwide.