FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For specific questions please email us at info@atlashealthandwellness.com
HOW MUCH DO WELLNESS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY FOLLOW-UP VISITS FOR COST?
In-office Follow-up visits for both Wellness Services and Physical Therapy Services without discounts cost 150$ per visit with each visit lasting 60 minutes. Discounts apply to select individuals and will be discussed with each client at the time of your Wellness Evaluation.
Follow-up visits outside of the office without discounts 200$ per hour to account for travel time. Some patients will not qualify for out of office visits if the venue is more than 20 min from our office located at Powerhouse Gyms in Stuart.
WHEN DO I PAY FOR MY SERVICES?
All In-office follow-up visits payments are collected at the time of service without exception. however discounts are available for select individuals.
Out of Office Follow-up Services are paid for over the phone and prior to the date of service to ensure privacy and protection of transactions.
DOES ATLAS HEALTH AND WELLNESS GIVE DISCOUNTS TO ACTIVE DUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER GROUPS?
Yes, provide a baseline 20% discount for all active-duty police, fire and rescue, military, students under the age of 18, and patients over the age of 65 with all purchases with proof of age, or active duty service.
Additional 10$ off for all active gym members of Powerhouse Gym and Crunch Fitness.
No discounts for any follow-up visits that occur outside of our office in Powerhouse Gym in Stuart FL.
DO YOU GIVE DISCOUNTS TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF ACTIVE-DUTY POLICE, FIRE AND RESCUE, OR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS?
Yes, we do offer the same 20% discounts to family members of service members but only family members that live in the same household of the service member (example, husband, wife, daughter, etc.) and proof of address will be required to honor such benefits (without exception).
This is for service members and their direct family members only.
HOW DO I OR CAN I QUALIFY FOR DISCOUNTS IF I AM NOT A "SELECT INDIVIDUAL"?
We do offer discounted rates for in-office follow-up visits for individuals that do not meet "select individual" qualifications.
We offer 20% discounts for all "non-select" individuals if they purchase 5 visits or more in advance of said visits.
Following purchase of 5 or more in-office follow-up visits we recommend that you schedule out your purchased visits to ensure continuity of care and to ensure appointment times work well with your schedule.
DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR OUT OF OFFICE FOLLOW-UP VISITS?
No. All Out of office follow-up visits cost 200$ and must be within 20 min drive from our office located inside of Powerhouse Gym in Stuart FL.
HOW CAN I AVOID THE 50$ NO-SHOW OR SAME DAY CANCELLATION FEE?
Dr. Hartwig understands life can be complicated and he is a patient to other providers himself. That being said to avoid being charged a no show or same day cancellation fee of 50$ patients can re-schedule your appointment within the same week of business.
Again we understand life is complex but we need to hold our patients accountable and to ensure compliance to your agreed upon Plan of Care.
Most of our clients have Plans of Care that are 1 time per week and we offer many hours for patients that need to re-schedule. Please be proactive and take control over your life and your long term health.
DO I NEED TO GET A REFERRAL TO BE EVALUATED OR TREATED FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY AT ATLAS HEALTH AND WELLNESS?
NO! Patients of Atlas Health and Wellness does not require a script or referral from a physician because we do not participate in private or public health insurance programs.
However, we will want to know your Primary Care Physicians contact information as we do fax your medical providers your PT Evaluation, Plan of Care, and subsequent re-evaluation findings to your medical provider as a professional courtesy and to ensure continuity of care between professions.
WHERE DO YOU PERFORM INITIAL EVALUATIONS?
We recommend that evaluations are performed at a patient’s home for privacy and to ensure that your husband or wife could attend your visit and support you in your journey to better health. However, we do offer evaluations at Powerhouse Gym in Stuart FL and encourage you to have your significant other or a supportive friend present to support you on this life changing journey.
WHERE DO FOLLOW-UP VISITS FOR ATLAS HEALTH AND WELLNESS TAKE PLACE?
As mentioned on our website we offer follow up visits at home, at your place of work, or at your local fitness center as all can serve a purpose. Some follow up visits may be beneficial for home to help proscribe some of the exercises as not all have to be in a gym setting nor is there enough time to perform all proscribed exercises at a gym. If your employer allows it having at least one, follow up visit at your place of work can be helpful in ergonomic set up of your workspace and may be ideal location to perform some of the exercises you are proscribed as not all exercises need a gym to perform and will most likely improve your work productivity. However, most of our follow up visits will be at your local gym and your PT will attend as your guest or if you do not have a gym you can meet your provider at Powerhouse gyms in Stuart FL.
WHAT TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE DO YOU ACCEPT?
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WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY INITIAL EVALUATION OR FOLLOW-UP VISITS?
We ask that you please wear athletic shoes and clothing for evaluations and for all follow up visits. We prefer shorts and t-shirts as this will allow us to accurately measure you during your examination. We also recommend that you eat appropriately 45 min prior to your follow up visits as exercising on an empty stomach can lead to hypoglycemia.
WHY ATLAS HEALTH AND WELLNESS DOES NOT ACCEPT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PT SERVICES?
We at Atlas Health and Wellness do not contract with insurance companies because reimbursement rates are poor in the state of FL and most practices in the state of FL must see 3 to 4 patients every 60 min to be reimbursed enough to balance the books and keep staff employed.
Atlas Health and Wellness was created to provide care for individuals who are ready to transform their lives and go beyond being injured and understand that prevention in the long run is more cost-effective than waiting until things break… and insurance companies see that as “too expensive”.
WHY DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR PATIENTS TO BE EVALUATED IN THE PRESENCE OF A CLOSE FRIEND, YOUR PARTNER, OR YOUR FAMILY?
We at Atlas Health and Wellness know that making any major life changes is very difficult challenge to take on alone and we want to empower patients to stay on the path that is less travelled. We hope to facilitate strong support from friends and family and perhaps they too will be courageous enough to join you on that path to support one another in living life to its absolute fullest potential.
Do we have to have the evaluation done at home or can we come to Atlas Health and Wellness for initial evaluations?
No evaluations are not required to be performed at patients’ home, but it is encouraged. Atlas Health and Wellness believes in understanding your home environment as many of the exercises you will be proscribed can be and ought to be performed at home (unless you plan on living in a gym).
However, we understand that performing evaluations and treatments at home may not be your style so you can come see us at your local gym or our gym. (depending on your gyms rules about having guests)
CAN I JUST GET THE EVALUATIONS AND BE GIVEN A HOME EXERCISE PROGRAM INSTEAD OF HAVING TO BUY ONE OF THE PACKAGES ATLAS HEALTH AND WELLNESS OFFERS?
Absolutely not! The evaluations are free and are 1.5 hours in length but the Plan of Care and the execution of said Plan of Care will be customized to each individual according to your need and your individual circumstance at the time of your evaluation and will evolve as time moves on and you get stronger and healthier.
Exercises and the execution of said exercises will be performed in the presence of a licensed and insured PT or PTA and is done so to ensure patients safety and competence of interventions. Following the execution of an exercise at a follow up visit you will receive a link to the exercises via our documentations system that only you will be able to see. These interventions have been recorded with video and include explanations as to why and how to safely perform and progress interventions to ensure optimal outcomes and can be reviewed at subsequent visits if required.
WHY DO YOU MEASURE BODY FAT PERCENTAGES AND LEAN MASS PERCENTAGES USING BODY FAT CALIPERS FOR NEW PATIENTS AND IS IT NECESSARY TO BECOME A PATIENT?
We measure this at the baseline body fat and lean mass using 4-point system at initial evaluations because measuring body weight is not healthy or an effective means of judging a client’s progress in achieving their fitness goals. Underwater weighing and BODPODS are very effective, but they are super expensive and impractical for clinical settings.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE MY BODY FAT AND LEAN MASS ANALYZED AT INITIAL EVALUATIONS?
No, body fat analysis is not required or necessary to become a patient at Atlas Health and Wellness, but we encourage patients to have this performed as it is a valid and reliable tool in detecting change for measuring lean mass and body fat compared to bioelectrical impedance or BMI. There are other methods such as under water weighing but these methods are not cost effective or efficient for Dr. Hartwig at this point and time.
DO I HAVE TO GET A RE-EVALUATION EVERY MONTH IF I HAVE HAD A FOLLOW UP VISIT IN THE LAST 30 DAY’S?
No, we do not force patients to have re-evaluations unless they have a new injury, or they have not been for a follow up visit in 30 days. We will encourage select patients to have re-evaluations every month if your therapist is concerned you are not being objective about your progress since your last re-evaluation or your initial evaluations.
Some high-level athletes may need re-evaluations much less frequent as major improvements become harder to demonstrate the healthier an individual is.
HOW MANY FREE EVALUATIONS DO I GET?
Patients receive one Free evaluation and all subsequent status updates will be designated a re-evaluation and can be purchased separately or are included in treatment packages. Re-evaluations do not include treatment interventions and are preformed every 4 weeks (or more) from the onset of care. If you have not used all visits in a selected package in a 4-week period since your initial evaluation or last re-evaluation your next visit will be a re-evaluation unless PT and patient agree to forgo re-evaluation and is determined on a case-by-case basis.
In some cases, this can be done intentionally to monitor the patients progress as major gains in strength and performance often take longer than 30 days and your therapist may recommend you schedule your next follow-up 60 days from your last re-evaluation or follow-up appointment if Dr. Hartwig feels that you are independent enough to progress on his or her own and actively chose to hold until significant gains can be measured.
CAN I HAVE MY BODY COMPOSITION TESTED EVERY MONTH?
No, we do not recommend this as these metrics take longer to time frame to demonstrate clinically significant changes. We encourage that we access body composition every 3 month as this measurement takes time to make significant changes and we do not want you to become discouraged on your journey to become your best you. We feel that every 3 months for body fat analysis. In fact, you don’t have to have it measured ever again following your initial evaluation if you do not want but we would have it in your records if you ever chose to make it part of your fitness journey.
WILL I ALWAYS BE TREATED BY DR. HARTWIG FOR MY PHYSICAL THERAPY AND WELLNESS SERVICES?
In the long-term no. But every provider working for Atlas Health and Wellness has trained under Dr. Hartwig as a PT or a PTA until Dr. Hartwig has deemed the provider is competent to see his patients for treatment, re-evaluations, or initial evaluations. Dr. Hartwig understands that he needs to duplicate his skills to create a better health care system and will only hire and train the best and brightest to represent his vision and mission of empowering individuals to live life to its fullest.
HOW LONG DO INITIAL EVALUATIONS LAST?
All Initial Evaluations are 1 hour in length. However, we ask that you arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Your early arrival that you are properly checked-in our documentation software and that all required demographic and healthcare related paperwork has been completed prior to starting your evaluation.
Your Initial Physical Therapy Evaluation that Atlas Health and Wellness has developed is extremely detailed and exhaustive despite it being FREE, so being late to your appointment is a huge disservice and disrespectful to all of the other patients under our care. Individuals that do not arrive 15 minutes BEFORE your scheduled evaluation has the right to decline to proceed with your scheduled evaluation as well as the right to decline all of Atlas Health and Wellness services indefinitely (especially for repeat offenders)
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM LATE TO MY APPOINTMENT?
Dr. Hartwig is a one man show and gives his clients 100% of his time and energy. Patients are often scheduled back to back and when you are late for your appointment it will end at the time it is scheduled to end.
If you are running late text our number to let Dr. Hartwig know as he does not answer the line when he is with patients.
No Shows and same day cancellations are 50$ charge and services will not be rendered until the cancelation or no show fee has been paid. WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
WHAT IS ATLAS SOCIAL OR LINDY HOP AND WHAT THE HECK DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY OR HEALTH AND WELLNESS?
Atlas Social is satisfying one of the 3 pillars of health. The 3 pillars according to the World Health Organization (which Dr. Hartwig for the most part doesn't trust) are as follows; Physical Health, Psychological Health, and Social Health Pillars. And according to the WHO these 3 pillars are necessary to achieve a truly healthy life.
Psychologically the partner-based dance known as the Lindy hop helps establish confidence, benevolence, and self-efficacy in socialization for both men and women with regards to friendships and in some cases developing and renewing romantic relationships.
Socially it provides a fun healthy environment to meet new people or develop long term friendships that are meaningful and real. Lindy Hop social dancing was one of the most popular and inclusive social dances starting in 1927 at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem New York and in American society up until the 1960's. It was regaining popularity with return of one of the most important creators of the dance Frankie Manning back in 1984 and was gaining huge popularity until the pandemic of 2019.
Physically Lindy hop is the most intense and high energy partner dancing out of all the ballroom dances and unfortunately it can lead to injuries if the body is not ready to participate in "the Dance". Lindy Hop typically runs between 120 up to 220 beats per minute and thus it is the one of the most effective means to an end when it comes to losing body fat and keeping your cardiovascular system in tip top shape!