Preferred Physical Therapy

Recent Google reviews

• Gwendolyn Calderon 1 · 3 months ago

  Where do I even start... My first two visits at Preferred Physical Therapy in Fleming Island were excellent. I worked one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist who was knowledgeable, attentive, and provided outstanding care. The staff throughout the clinic were consistently kind, compassionate, and professional. This review is not directed at them personally—it is directed at the business model. After those first visits, my experience changed significantly. Most appointments consisted of working with aides, technicians, or on my own for much of the session. I would typically see a physical therapist only briefly, often for just a few minutes at the end of my visit. Manual therapy was frequently performed by someone other than the physical therapist, and after several of those sessions I left feeling worse and experienced setbacks that I believe were related to my treatment. As a patient, I expected my insurance-covered physical therapy visits to involve substantially more direct, one-on-one care from a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. Instead, I often felt like I was one of several patients being managed simultaneously, with much of my treatment delegated to support staff. In my opinion, this model prioritizes volume over individualized patient care. While I understand that clinics may use support personnel appropriately, I did not feel I received the level of skilled, hands-on treatment I expected, especially given the complexity of my condition. My husband, who is a Naval Special Warfare physician, became concerned about my repeated setbacks and advised me that it was in my best interest to discontinue treatment there. After seeking care elsewhere, I ultimately underwent bilateral hip replacements and am now receiving one-on-one physical therapy at another clinic. The difference in the quality and amount of direct therapist involvement has been remarkable. If you're looking for a physical therapy clinic, I encourage you to ask who will actually be providing your treatment and how much one-on-one time you will receive with a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. If your appointments primarily involve exercising on your own or with support staff, consider discussing your concerns with the clinic, your referring physician, and your insurance company to better understand what services are being billed and what level of care your plan covers. Again, I want to emphasize that the employees I interacted with were kind and caring. My concerns are with the company's treatment model and my personal experience receiving care there.