Where we see patients
Can I get pelvic floor physical therapy by telehealth in Hawaii?
Yes. Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, is licensed in Hawaii and sees patients anywhere in the state by video for women's and men's pelvic floor physical therapy and orthopedic physical therapy. TRICARE, HMSA, and HMSA QUEST in-network. No state referral requirement; some plans need one.
The details
What to know
Answered by the practice of Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapist.
Specialist physical therapy in Hawaii is concentrated on Oahu, and even there the waitlists run months. On the neighbor islands it is often not available at all. Video visits mean a patient in Hilo, Kona, Kahului, Lihue, or Kaunakakai sees the same specialist as someone in Honolulu, usually within a week.
Telehealth physical therapy is legal and covered in Hawaii when the therapist holds a Hawaii license and the patient is physically in the state at the time of the visit. The evaluation is 60 minutes, follow-ups are 45, and visits are one-on-one on a HIPAA-compliant platform.
Military families at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield Barracks, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and PMRF Barking Sands are seen by video with no drive across the island.
Phone for Hawaii: 808-330-7934. The first step is a free 15-minute discovery call to confirm coverage and fit.
How it works
How a virtual visit works
Most of pelvic floor physical therapy is education, breathing and pressure management, movement retraining, and a home program. All of it works on camera. During the evaluation, Dr. Shalem guides a self-assessment so she can see how the pelvic floor is coordinating with breath and movement. An internal examination is not possible by video; if a hands-on assessment would change the plan, she says so and helps the patient find local care.
Discovery call
15 minutes, free, by phoneA short call to hear what is going on, explain how visits work, and check insurance or pricing. No pressure to book.
Evaluation
60 minutes, by videoDr. Shalem takes a full history, watches how you move and breathe, and guides the self-assessments she needs to build a plan.
Your plan
Same visitYou leave the evaluation with a plain-language explanation and a short home program, usually a few minutes a day.
Follow-ups
45 minutes, every 1 to 2 weeksProgress checks, program updates, and techniques you can do yourself, for as long as they are useful.
For a video visit you will need
- A phone, tablet, or laptop with a camera
- A private room
- A mat or towel
- About an hour
Your physical therapist
Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Miami. Licensed in Hawaii.
Dr. Shalem treats pelvic health for women and men, from pregnancy and postpartum recovery to bladder, bowel, and pelvic pain conditions and recovery after prostate or pelvic surgery, and general orthopedic conditions of the back, neck, hips, knees, shoulders, and feet. Visits are one-on-one and unhurried, and she explains what she is seeing in plain language.
More about Dr. ShalemPrefer to write? Send a message.
Questions about insurance, pricing, or whether physical therapy is the right next step? We reply within one business day.
Start with a free 15-minute call.
Tell us what is going on, hear how Dr. Shalem would approach it, and decide from there.