Where we see patients

Is there a pelvic floor physical therapist in Maui, Molokai and Lanai?

Yes, by video. EMS Therapy sees patients anywhere in Maui, Molokai and Lanai for women's and men's pelvic floor physical therapy and orthopedic physical therapy, one-on-one with Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, usually within a week. TRICARE, HMSA, and HMSA QUEST in-network.

The details

What to know

Answered by the practice of Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapist.

Maui County has a handful of physical therapists and no one dedicated to pelvic health; Molokai and Lanai have no specialist care at all. Video visits bring a pelvic floor specialist to Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina, Upcountry, Hana, Kaunakakai, and Lanai City without a flight.

Video visits work the same in Kahului, Wailuku, Kihei, Lahaina, Makawao, Pukalani, Haiku, Hana, Kaunakakai, and Lanai City as anywhere else in Maui, Molokai and Lanai. All of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai are seen by video.

Hawaii allows you to start physical therapy without a physician referral. Your insurance plan may still ask for one (TRICARE Prime and some HMSA plans do), and we check that for you before the first visit.

Phone 808-330-7934. The first step is a free 15-minute discovery call to confirm coverage and whether video is the right 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.

A woman at her kitchen table on a video visit with her physical therapist
  1. Discovery call

    15 minutes, free, by phone

    A short call to hear what is going on, explain how visits work, and check insurance or pricing. No pressure to book.

  2. Evaluation

    60 minutes, by video

    Dr. Shalem takes a full history, watches how you move and breathe, and guides the self-assessments she needs to build a plan.

  3. Your plan

    Same visit

    You leave the evaluation with a plain-language explanation and a short home program, usually a few minutes a day.

  4. Follow-ups

    45 minutes, every 1 to 2 weeks

    Progress 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
Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT

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. Shalem

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