Who should a PT refer a patient to?

• A. Primary care provider
• B. Other PT
• C. Healthcare professional of patient choice
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

In direct-access practice, a physical therapist acts as the first point of contact but must recognize when a case goes beyond PT scope or requires additional expertise. If signs point to medical or systemic issues, referring to a primary care provider is appropriate to obtain medical evaluation. If the patient could benefit from more specialized physical therapy beyond what one clinician can provide, referring to another PT with the needed expertise makes sense. And it’s important to respect the patient’s choice by helping them connect with a healthcare professional they prefer, when appropriate. Because each of these situations can arise, the best answer is all of the above.