You would rather know how this works before you hand anyone your insurance card. Fair enough. These are the questions patients actually ask before a first visit, answered the way Dr. Heather Smith would answer them in the room. If yours is not here, call the clinic and ask before you book anything.
Every visit starts with an assessment of what hurts and how you are moving. From there, your physical therapist uses hands-on techniques to open up mobility, then works you through exercises chosen for the goal you came in with. You also get plain explanations of posture, body mechanics and the daily habits that keep bringing the problem back.
No. North Carolina has unrestricted direct access to physical therapy, so you can be evaluated and treated at Aureum Physio without a physician referral. If your insurance plan requires one, we will tell you before your first visit so there are no surprises.
Yes. Orthopedic and sports physical therapy is our focus. Both of our physical therapists are board-certified orthopedic clinical specialists (OCS), and Dr. Shannon Chapman is also a board-certified sports clinical specialist (SCS). We treat back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and foot and ankle injuries, running and overuse injuries, and pre- and post-surgical rehab, including ACL reconstruction rehabilitation and return-to-sport testing before you go back to full play.
Wear comfortable, loose clothing you can move easily in and that does not restrict circulation. Depending on what we are treating, your physical therapist may suggest particular shoes or a brace. Bring your insurance card and photo ID, plus anything you already have about your medical history: imaging reports, x-rays, notes from your physician.
Yes. Arrive rested, so you can give the session real attention and energy. It also helps to keep track of any pain medication you have taken and when, because that changes what your body will tell us and lets your physical therapist set the intensity of treatment accordingly.
Sessions are 40 minutes long, and that time is one on one with your Doctor of Physical Therapy from start to finish. No handing you off to an aide, no three patients at once.
Yes. Every session is guaranteed to be one-on-one with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy, from your first evaluation through your last visit.
Yes. You will leave with specific exercises for the stretch of recovery you are actually in, not a generic sheet pulled from a drawer. Doing them carefully between visits is a large part of how quickly you progress. If you want to add something new, or something does not feel right, ask first.
Ask. Your physical therapist is available to talk through your plan before and after each visit, and you can call the clinic between appointments to get a question to them. Nobody expects you to remember every instruction on the drive home, and a question you sit on for a week costs you a week.
We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Cigna, Aetna, TRICARE, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage plans. Coverage and benefits vary by plan, so contact us to verify your specific benefits. We verify your coverage before treatment begins, so you know what your visits will cost up front.
Yes. We offer competitive self-pay options for patients who prefer to pay out of pocket. Call us at (919) 694-6186 and we will tell you what it comes to for your situation.
A typical plan runs 2 to 3 visits a week for 4 to 6 weeks. The right frequency depends on your condition and on what you are trying to get back to, and your physical therapist sets it with you at the first appointment rather than booking a block of visits you never agreed to.
Most patients come in 2 to 3 times a week for 4 to 6 weeks, and many notice a change within the first week or two. Your plan depends on what we find in your evaluation, and your physical therapist will give you a realistic timeline on day one rather than a guess.
Yes, and you should ask. Understanding what is happening in your own body is part of the treatment, not an extra. Both of our physical therapists are board-certified orthopedic clinical specialists, and yours will tell you what they found, why it hurts and what the plan does about it. Bring up anything that comes up mid-treatment.
Say so in the moment. If pain climbs during a session, your physical therapist needs to know so they can change the intensity or the technique. Treatment should challenge the tissue without overwhelming it, and adjusting as we go is normal. Nothing here depends on pushing you through pain you cannot tolerate.
You will not have to guess. Your physical therapist tracks your progress against the goals you set on day one and tells you plainly when your strength, your motion and your confidence are holding without them. You finish with the program that keeps the capacity you built, so the problem does not come back.