[Direct access to physical therapy services]

This article presents findings from professional and scientific articles written on the subject of direct access to physical therapy services. Direct access is sometimes referred to as "self-referral"--the patient does not require a physician's referral prior to receiving physiotherapy treatment. The article provides insight from the experience of countries where direct access is accepted practice, which will serve as a theoretical and scientific basis for the use of direct access in Israel. Findings include the influence of direct access on the health care system: cost-benefit analysis, advantages and challenges, as well as the perspective of main stakeholders: physicians, physical therapists and patient-clients. .