Under what circumstances can a doctor or facility refuse to treat a patient?!
Question: For example, if I have a doctor's prescription for physical therapy, must a facility that provides PT services treat me, or can they refuse for a particular reason within a defined set? Or, do they not even have to specify why they are refusing treatment?
Answers: For example, if I have a doctor's prescription for physical therapy, must a facility that provides PT services treat me, or can they refuse for a particular reason within a defined set? Or, do they not even have to specify why they are refusing treatment?
There are a number of cases where one can refuse to accept you as a patient including:
1. Unavailablity of therapists
2. Your service requires a speciality not offered at that facility
3. Your insurance is not accepted at that facility (although you always have the option to pay up front out of pocket)
4. There has been a legal issue in the past (we once refused to treat a patient because he sexually harrassed a PT...it was either we refuse to treat him or we would report the incident to the police)
5. Your condition is inappropriate for physical therapy (the physician is not always aware of what types of conditions can be helped or not be helped with PT)...we do get many inappropriate referrals such as for "maintenence massage"...
6. You've been in PT, but have been unable to make any substantial progress
7. You have a history of failure to attend your appointments.
There are others as well. If it's an incidence where the specialty you need is not offered or if the clinic is just too full, I imagine you can ask for a referral or recommendation for another clinic.
They can refuse any time unless its a emergancy.
Like, if they don't feel comfertable around you. (Your a guy asking a girl doctor to check for testicle cancer every time -.-)
Or your a drug addict.
They don't feel confident doing it
I don't know exactly where you are talking about because laws and procedures vary. But generally unless their is a referal from a specialist you cannot demand treatment from any random specialty. This is because every one would end up swamping the available services for no real medical reason. Physical therapists usually are autonomous professionals and regardless of a doctors "prescription" won't treat unless its warranted. People should give you a reason if they are turning you awaythough, did you ask them?
Chris- Registered Nurse (stuck in the health system for years and still unsure how it works!)
If it is state funded--then they will not refuse you as quickly--but if they are not stare funded--and you have no insurance or they feel you are a financial risk--they can refuse you. And I am sure there are other reasons (ones I have not even considered)
Most facilities will not refuse to treat someone unless there is good reason. For example, If the doctors at the facility are not taking new clients, if there were to be any verbal or physical confrontation between client and office staff or client and doctor, a missed scheduled appointment time, or if the facility doctors felt they could not treat you any further and have done all they could do for you. In which case you can ask for another referral somewhere else. You can ask why they are refusing to treat you but I believe they don't have to give you an answer. My suggestion to you is if none of these apply, then start looking on your own for other facilities that offer physical therapy. I hope this helps!