We’re so glad you’re considering Joyful Motion for your child’s therapy needs. We understand that choosing the right therapy provider can feel overwhelming, and our team is here to make the process as simple and supportive as possible.
Evaluation Process
Every child is evaluated to help us understand their individual strengths, needs, and goals to develop a personalized plan of care. If your child has completed an evaluation within the past 6 months, we may be able to use those results along with additional testing, if needed.
Getting Started
Please call (727) 773-2687 to speak with our Patient Care Advocate. Our team will discuss your child’s needs and determine whether Joyful Motion is an appropriate fit and which therapist(s) may best meet their needs.
Your child will need a prescription from their physician requesting an Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), and/or Speech-Language/Feeding evaluation. Following the evaluation, your child’s physician will receive a report with our findings and recommendations.
Our Billing Coordinator will also review your insurance benefits and contact you to discuss coverage and financial arrangements. We work with out-of-network insurance benefits when available and will seek authorization for services according to your individual policy.
Scheduling
Once we determine that Joyful Motion is a good fit for your child, our office will contact you with next steps.
Evaluations are often scheduled in the morning, when children are typically better prepared to participate and perform at their best. A signed prescription from your child’s physician must be received before we can schedule an evaluation.
Before the Evaluation
Our office will email the necessary intake paperwork. Please complete and return all forms before the scheduled appointment.
What to Expect at the Evaluation
Please arrive a few minutes early to complete any remaining questionnaires or paperwork.
Depending on your child’s age, needs, and type of evaluation, a parent or caregiver may accompany them into the clinic. Infants and younger children, particularly during PT evaluations, are typically accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
For some OT evaluations, children may be evaluated independently to help the therapist obtain an accurate picture of their abilities with fewer distractions. However, this is not required and will depend on your child’s individual needs.
Evaluations typically take 1–2 hours, depending on your child’s age, the type of evaluation, and their specific needs. Afterward, the therapist will score the assessments and prepare a written evaluation with individualized recommendations. Reports may take up to 10 business days to complete, although PT evaluations may be completed sooner.