Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Many insurance companies require that we have a referral on file. For the few that don't currently require it, we still ask that each child who is seen for services at Connect the Dots have a referral sent to us for each discipline they will be seen for. We will work with your child’s referring provider to coordinate care, and can even work with your child’s whole team of providers!Â
The best way to request a referral is to call your child's pediatrician's office (or other specialist/medical provider) and ask that they fax us a referral for any discipline you are seeking services for.
The first step in getting started at Connect the Dots is to request a referral from your child’s pediatrician or other specialist/medical provider.Â
Once this step has been completed, it’s time to fill out our intake form.Â
- If your child is a NEW PATIENT please complete this form.
- If your child is a CURRENT PATIENT and being referred for a new therapy/discipline, please complete this form.
You are required to submit the appropriate form before we will proceed with your child’s referral.
When your intake form has been submitted, our office will begin processing your child’s referral and intake form.
The intake form provides us with details that ensure that we have a clear understanding of your child’s needs and concerns or goals you may have for therapy.Â
We will give you a call to discuss scheduling within three weeks of your intake form being submitted.
If you have any questions about getting started or need the intake form in another language, please give our office a call at (541) 255-2681.
Getting started with therapy is an exciting journey and we want you and your child to feel comfortable and confident! Depending on your child’s age and development, it may be helpful to talk to them about what to expect at their first appointment or show them pictures of our clinic.Â
Therapy at Connect the Dots is play-based, so we have lots of games, toys, balls, swings, and other equipment that are fun and can be used therapeutically. If your child is participating in Occupational or Physical Therapy, we recommend that they wear clothes that are comfortable and easy to move around in. While we have water fountains, it may be helpful to bring a water bottle if your child’s therapy involves a lot of physical activity.Â
By completing the intake form, you have provided our team with information about your child that will help us to better support their individual needs and follow their interests. Including information about your child’s favorite activities, toys or interests helps our therapists to build a strong rapport with your child and use their strengths to build on new skills.
If you have any questions, please give us a call at 541-255-2681.
We understand that there is a high level of need in the community for services and we strive to rise to the occasion. Depending on the type of therapy you are seeking, there may be a waiting period. Once we have received your child’s referral and intake form, we will call you to discuss the current scheduling timeframes. The waiting period can be difficult to estimate as it is based on openings from when a child graduates or is discharged from therapy, which varies in duration.
Yes! If your child has received services within the last year, you will need to complete the CURRENT PATIENT Intake Form.Â
For current patients, the intake form includes a few questions about your concerns and goals relating to the new referral. It also verifies if you’ve had any changes to insurance or contact information.
As a current patient, you are required to complete the CURRENT PATIENT intake form to initiate scheduling a NEW therapy. Once your intake form has been submitted, we will review the details and give you a call within three weeks to discuss scheduling options.Â
It it has been 1 year or more since you received services at Connect the Dots, you will need to complete the NEW PATIENT Intake Form instead.Â
The first appointment that we schedule is an evaluation which includes the child, guardian, and therapist. During the evaluation the therapist will conduct an interview with you and your child, complete testing and make clinical observations of your child.Â
At the end of your first appointment, the therapist will discuss the findings of the evaluation and recommendations. If ongoing treatment is warranted, we will discuss how often we would like to see your child in the clinic and may provide a home exercise program (HEP) if time allows. We will also answer any questions you may have regarding your child or treatment. After the evaluation, you will receive the full report through the patient portal, which will be discussed further at the first treatment appointment. Our therapists will continue to collaborate with you at the first treatment appointment regarding any questions you may have about the evaluation findings or process.
Next, you can discuss scheduling treatment appointments with our Patient Care Coordinators at the front desk. Some insurance plans may require prior authorization to schedule, in which case we will give you a call once we can proceed.
Your therapist will make recommendations for treatment based upon your child’s goals. While frequency of therapy is oftentimes 1x week, duration of therapy varies depending on your child’s goals. It is essential that you participate in therapy sessions and implement the home exercise program (HEP) as recommended by your therapist.Â
After your prescribed course of treatment, you may be discharged or put on a break to continue to integrate home exercises that do not require the skill of a licensed therapist. If therapy is still recommended once completing your initial plan of care (POC), you will work with your therapist to identify new goals. Ultimately, our goal at Connect the Dots is to help your child achieve their highest potential.
A guardian is expected to be at each appointment with their child and to adhere to the Achieving Therapeutic Success contract, which you will go over in the appointment after the evaluation.
When possible we encourage families to find alternate care for other children in the household. If other arrangements are needed, please let us know while scheduling.Â
A guardian is expected to be at each appointment with their child and adhere to the Achieving Therapeutic Success contract, which you will go over in the appointment after the evaluation.
Probably! We accept most commercial insurances, as well as Oregon Health Plan. Give us a call and we will check if we are able to bill your insurance. Please note that we will do a courtesy check of your benefits, but it is your responsibility to fully understand what your plan covers and any exclusions specific to your plan. Not sure what questions to ask? Use this form.Â
To avoid surprises, review your plan's benefit summary to make sure they cover the appropriate therapies.
Of course! Sometimes insurance isn’t the answer and in that case, we work with families who want to pay out of pocket. Give us a call to find out more about payment options.
We bill monthly and you can pay several ways. You can stop by the front desk and drop off a payment, pay through the portal, you can mail a check or call and we can take a payment over the phone. If you want to mail in a payment, please make checks payable to Connect the Dots Pediatric Therapy and include your child’s name on the check. Do not mail cash.
All canceling or rescheduling of appointments must be done over the phone. We ask for as much notice as possible, but require at least 24 hours. For our attendance policy please review Policies and Forms.
We encourage you to reschedule any missed appointments ASAP in order to complete all prescribed visits in your child’s plan of care (POC). If you have limited scheduling availability or frequently cancel appointments, you will have difficulty following the prescribed POC, leading to limited progress.
Yes! We don’t like to share germs at CTD. As a general rule of thumb, if they stayed home from school, or came home early, they shouldn’t come to therapy. If your child has had a fever, we ask that they are 24 hours clear of the fever before coming in for an appointment. We understand that sickness can be unpredictable and ask that you give us as much notice as possible if you have to miss an appointment.
Yes, when we close due to weather, we will post on our web site and Facebook and call or text all families who will be affected by the closure. If you ever have a question if we’ll be open or not, give us a call to double check.
We have appointments as early as 8am and as late as 5pm, but do not offer any on the weekends at this time. We do offer flex scheduling options in which you can call the office as your schedule allows to see if we have any open appointments. Please ask our Patient Care Coordinators about this option if you are having difficulty finding a regular time that works for you.
If you have concerns about your child’s development, it is important to share these observations with your child’s pediatrician. They are best equipped to support your individual child’s needs.Â
We offer a resource list for community organizations, classes, events, support groups, and more. To learn more, visit our Resource Page.Â
These resources are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement by Connect the Dots of any of the products, services or opinions of the organization or individual.
Still have a question? Give us a call or send us an email from our Contact page.