Referring Providers

A rehabilitation-focused partner in patient care

NWA Physiatry provides physician-led Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) evaluation and management for patients whose neurologic, musculoskeletal, or functional recovery needs affect mobility, independence, and daily life.

Clinical Indicators

When to consider a PM&R referral

A PM&R consultation may be appropriate when a patient experiences functional decline, mobility barriers, tone abnormalities, or recovery needs that benefit from physician-level rehabilitation leadership:

Persistent functional limitations or mobility deficits following stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury
Progressive neurologic illness (such as Parkinson's disease or Multiple Sclerosis) where functional movement, mobility, or tone requires management
Spasticity, dystonia, or abnormal muscle tone that limits comfort, positioning, mobility, or daily care
Patients requiring evaluation for contracture prevention, targeted botulinum toxin injections, or tone-related medical management
Evaluation following limb loss, including prosthetic prescriptions, residual limb concerns, or phantom limb pain
Nonoperative musculoskeletal conditions, tendinopathies, or myofascial pain syndromes impairing functional mobility
Transitioning home following hospital stays or acute inpatient rehabilitation with ongoing physiatric needs
Patients requiring physician-level evaluation for manual or power wheelchairs, orthotics, bracing, or prosthetic needs
Rehabilitation planning and goal coordination alongside physical, occupational, or speech-language therapy teams

Clinical Scope

Common referral areas

Dr. Drake evaluates and manages outpatient rehabilitation needs across several primary clinical domains:

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Neurologic Rehabilitation

Clinical evaluation and rehabilitation management for stroke, traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, and associated neurogenic bowel or bladder dysfunction.

Spasticity & Tone Management

Management of focal spasticity, dystonia, and abnormal muscle tone, including contracture risk evaluation, pharmacologic management, and botulinum toxin injections when clinically indicated.

Amputation & Prosthetic Management

Post-amputation functional assessments, prosthetic prescriptions and ongoing management, residual limb skin and wound evaluation within PM&R scope, and treatment of phantom limb pain or sensation.

Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Nonoperative diagnostic evaluation and conservative management of joint pain, tendinopathy, and myofascial pain syndromes, including trigger point injections when clinically appropriate.

Functional Recovery & Equipment

Assessments for functional decline, mobility limitations, wheelchair evaluations, orthotic and prosthetic recommendations, therapy coordination, and structured post-hospitalization rehabilitation planning.

Referral Intake

Helpful information when available

Including relevant documentation when available can help Dr. Drake understand the reason for referral and prepare for the consultation.

Formal referral requirements and submission workflows will be published once practice management systems are live.

Recommended clinical records:

Reason for referral and primary functional or mobility concern
Relevant diagnosis, surgical history, or injury details
Recent hospital or inpatient rehabilitation discharge summary (if applicable)
Relevant imaging or specialist consultation notes
Recent physical, occupational, or speech-language therapy progress notes or evaluations
Current medication list
Information regarding current orthotics, prosthetics, wheelchair, or mobility devices
Patient demographic and insurance information once intake workflows open

What to Expect

What the PM&R consultation may address

Depending on the patient's diagnosis and functional challenges, a physiatric evaluation focuses on medical leadership and practical adaptation:

Comprehensive functional and mobility history

Targeted neurologic and musculoskeletal physical examination

Evaluation of current equipment, orthotics, or prosthetic fit and function

Review of ongoing rehabilitation progress and therapy optimization

Consideration of pharmacologic or procedural interventions (e.g., botulinum toxin or trigger point injections) when appropriate

Structured goal setting and collaborative next-step rehabilitation planning

Team Coordination

Communication & collaborative care

Physiatry serves as an integrative partner alongside referring physicians, primary care teams, medical and surgical specialists, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and prosthetists/orthotists.

Dr. Drake works to complement existing medical relationships by concentrating specifically on function, recovery, mobility, and rehabilitation planning.

The finalized clinical workflow will support appropriate communication with referring clinicians and other members of the patient's care team.

Operational Status

Referral submission workflows

Secure referral submission instructions will be published before patient scheduling opens. Dedicated methods for submitting clinical records will be provided once the practice's intake systems are finalized.

Please do not transmit protected health information (PHI), patient records, or clinical intake documents through general website forms or non-secure email channels.

For general, non-clinical questions about the practice or its scope, clinicians are welcome to reach the practice at office / fax 479-302-7040 or admin@nwaphysiatry.com.

Contact practice with general questions

Facility Partnerships

Looking for ongoing PM&R support for your organization?

If your skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation unit, or healthcare organization is seeking an ongoing physiatric consultation model or attending relationship rather than referring an individual outpatient, please explore our dedicated facility services.

Explore Facility Services