Southern Maryland
Pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapy in Southern Maryland, by video.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna and Medicare in-network; private pay for other plans. Women's and men's pelvic health and orthopedic physical therapy, one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, from home anywhere in Southern Maryland.
- No referral needed (unrestricted direct access)
- Usually seen within a week
- Video visits anywhere in Southern Maryland
What we treat in Southern Maryland
Three specialties. One physical therapist.
Southern Maryland's specialists are mostly up Route 5 in the Washington suburbs, and families around Patuxent River Naval Air Station and Indian Head are a long drive from any of them. Video visits bring a pelvic health specialist to Waldorf, Lexington Park, and Prince Frederick, in-network with CareFirst, Aetna and Medicare.
Women's pelvic floor physical therapy
- Pregnancy and after birth
- Postpartum recovery · Pregnancy pelvic and back pain · Diastasis recti · C-section recovery
- Bladder and bowel
- Urinary incontinence · Overactive bladder, urgency and frequency · Pelvic organ prolapse · Constipation and bowel dysfunction
- Pain and recovery
- Painful intercourse · Chronic pelvic pain · Menopause pelvic health · Recovery after pelvic surgery
Men's pelvic floor physical therapy
- After prostate treatment
- Leaking after prostate surgery · Pelvic floor and erectile dysfunction
- Pain and urgency
- Chronic pelvic pain syndrome · Male urgency, frequency and leaking
Orthopedic physical therapy
- Spine
- Low back pain · Sciatica · Neck pain and headaches
- Hip and knee
- Hip pain · Knee pain · Rehab after knee or hip surgery
- Shoulder, foot and ankle
- Shoulder pain · Foot and ankle pain
Coverage in Maryland
Insurance and pricing
Bring your plan name to the discovery call and we confirm your physical therapy benefit before the first visit. No surprises.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In-network with CareFirst, Maryland's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. We confirm your physical therapy benefit before the first visit.
Aetna
In-network with Aetna in Maryland. Most Aetna plans cover physical therapy with a copay or coinsurance; we confirm yours before the first visit.
Medicare
Enrolled with traditional Medicare (Part B). Medicare Advantage plans vary and are checked before the first visit.
Private pay
Available for any other plan. We provide a superbill you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA cards accepted.
Referrals
Maryland allows you to see a physical therapist for evaluation and treatment without a physician referral, with no visit limit. Some insurance plans still ask for one, and we check that for you.
Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert counties are seen by video, including military families at NAS Patuxent River.
Questions
Questions people ask in Southern Maryland
- Is there a pelvic floor physical therapist in Southern Maryland?
- Do I need a referral for physical therapy in Maryland?
- Can I get pelvic floor physical therapy by telehealth in Maryland?
- Does CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield cover pelvic floor physical therapy?
- Does Aetna cover pelvic floor physical therapy in Maryland?
- Does Medicare cover pelvic floor physical therapy in Maryland?
- Can I get reimbursed for out-of-network pelvic floor physical therapy in Maryland?
- Can pelvic floor physical therapy be done over video?
- How many pelvic floor physical therapy visits does it take?
- How much does pelvic floor physical therapy cost?
- Do men need pelvic floor physical therapy?
Where
Anywhere in Southern Maryland
A video visit works the same in Waldorf, La Plata, Lexington Park, Leonardtown, California, Prince Frederick, Solomons, Hughesville, Indian Head, and Charlotte Hall as it does anywhere else in Southern Maryland. No clinic, no drive, no waiting room.
- Waldorf
- La Plata
- Lexington Park
- Leonardtown
- California
- Prince Frederick
- Solomons
- Hughesville
- Indian Head
- Charlotte Hall
- Everywhere in between
Pages for each area
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
Questions
Common questions in Southern Maryland
Do I need a referral for physical therapy in Maryland?
Maryland allows you to see a physical therapist for evaluation and treatment without a physician referral, with no visit limit. Some insurance plans still ask for one, and we check that for you.
What insurance do you take in Maryland?
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield: In-network with CareFirst, Maryland's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. We confirm your physical therapy benefit before the first visit. Aetna: In-network with Aetna in Maryland. Most Aetna plans cover physical therapy with a copay or coinsurance; we confirm yours before the first visit. Medicare: Enrolled with traditional Medicare (Part B). Medicare Advantage plans vary and are checked before the first visit. Private pay: Available for any other plan. We provide a superbill you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA cards accepted.
Do you see men as well as women?
Yes. Dr. Shalem treats women's pelvic health, men's pelvic health (leaking after prostate surgery, chronic pelvic pain, urgency, and pelvic-floor-related erectile dysfunction), and orthopedic conditions for everyone.
Do I have to live near a city to be seen?
No. Video visits work anywhere in Southern Maryland with an internet connection. Patients in rural areas are a large share of the practice.
What does a visit cost?
With in-network insurance, your plan's physical therapy copay or cost share; we verify it before the first visit. Private-pay rates are quoted on the free discovery call, and a superbill is provided for out-of-network reimbursement.
How soon can I be seen?
Usually within a week. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
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.