Where we see patients
Can I get pelvic floor physical therapy by telehealth in Maryland?
Yes. Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, is licensed in Maryland and sees patients anywhere in the state by video for women's and men's pelvic floor physical therapy and orthopedic physical therapy. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna and Medicare in-network; private pay for other plans. No referral needed (unrestricted direct access).
The details
What to know
Answered by the practice of Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapist.
Most of Maryland's pelvic health and orthopedic specialists sit inside the Baltimore-Washington corridor. For the Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland, and the western counties, a video visit replaces a two-hour round trip with an hour at home.
Telehealth physical therapy is legal and covered in Maryland when the therapist holds a Maryland 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.
Video visits reach the Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland, and Western Maryland, where specialist pelvic health care usually means a long drive to Baltimore or Washington.
Phone for Maryland: 786-273-9151. 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 Maryland.
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.