Insurance and referrals
How do I get a TRICARE Prime referral for pelvic floor physical therapy in Hawaii?
Ask the primary care manager for a referral to "physical therapy, pelvic floor, evaluate and treat" in the TRICARE West network, and name EMS Therapy. The referral is processed by the Hawaii Referral Center, and we call to schedule once it arrives.
The details
What to know
Answered by the practice of Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapist.
TRICARE Prime enrollees, including most active-duty family members, need a referral from their primary care manager (PCM) for physical therapy. On Oahu, PCMs work out of Tripler Army Medical Center, Desmond T. Doss Health Clinic at Schofield Barracks, Warrior Ohana Medical Home in Kapolei, Branch Health Clinic Makalapa, the 15th Medical Group at Hickam, and Branch Health Clinic Kaneohe Bay.
Military clinics may first offer care in-house. When a clinic cannot offer pelvic floor physical therapy within TRICARE access standards, or does not offer it, the referral goes to a TRICARE West network provider. Asking for a specific network provider by name, and saying video visits are acceptable, helps the referral land where it should.
Useful details for the referral: EMS Therapy, Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT; group NPI 1487545786; referral fax 844-886-0285; Hawaii line 808-330-7934. Once the referral is approved, we call within one business day.
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.