Equality, accessibility, and availability of physical therapy services in Israel-Perception of national directors.

To date no research has described Israeli physical therapy (PT) services to determine whether they are provided in the spirit intended by the National Health Insurance Law (NHIL). This study aimed to assess the equality, accessibility, and availability of PT services in Israel. Qualitative research was based on semi-structured, personal interviews with all national directors of PT services in Israel, followed by content analysis of the data obtained.

[Direct access to physical therapy services].

This article presents findings from professional and scientific articles written on the subject of direct access to physical therapy services. Direct access is sometimes referred to as "self-referral"--the patient does not require a physician's referral prior to receiving physiotherapy treatment. The article provides insight from the experience of countries where direct access is accepted practice, which will serve as a theoretical and scientific basis for the use of direct access in Israel.