Learn From Leaders in Pelvic Floor and Gastrointestinal Care
Dr. Kum Kum Patel
Board-Certified Gastroenterologist with advanced training in Neurogastroenterology and Motility Disorders, specializing in the evaluation and treatment of complex bowel dysfunction.
Dr. Julie Sarton
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, Educator, and Creator of the Sarton Systems™ Framework with over 30 years of clinical experience helping patients with complex pelvic floor dysfunction and constipation.
Live Clinician Training
Why Constipation Isn't Always a Gut Problem
Learn how gastroenterology, pelvic floor therapy, and the nervous system work together to influence chronic constipation, IBS-C, and complex bowel dysfunction.
This multidisciplinary course will help you identify the true drivers behind persistent constipation and develop more effective treatment strategies for your patients.
AS SEEN ON
Why this course matters
Most Clinicians Are Missing Part of the Picture
Many patients with chronic constipation continue to struggle despite treatment because the underlying contributors are never fully identified.
- Some patients have motility disorders.
- Others have outlet dysfunction.
- Others have outlet dysfunction.
- When only one system is evaluated, important contributors may be missed.
This course teaches clinicians how to evaluate constipation through a systems-based framework that helps uncover what may truly be driving symptoms.
What You'll Learn
A Clinical Framework for Complex Constipation Cases
The Sarton Systems™ Framework
Understand how multiple body systems contribute to bowel dysfunction and chronic constipation.
Motility vs Outlet Dysfunction
Learn how to distinguish whether the problem involves stool movement through the colon or difficulty evacuating at the pelvic floor.
Pelvic Floor & GI Assessment
Develop practical screening and assessment strategies to identify overlooked contributors.
IBS-C & The Gut-Brain Connection
Understand how stress, anxiety, pelvic floor dysfunction, and gastrointestinal symptoms often overlap in IBS-C presentations.
A Real-World Complex Constipation Case
Follow the evaluation of a 38-year-old woman presenting with:
- Years of chronic constipation
- Hard stools
- Incomplete evacuation
- Excessive straining
- Digital assistance during bowel movements
- Tailbone pain after a previous fall
- Postpartum symptom worsening
- Abdominal pain and bloating
Through this case study, you’ll learn how to determine whether symptoms are driven by motility dysfunction, outlet dysfunction, pelvic floor involvement, IBS-C, or a combination of contributing factors.
Who This Course Is For
Designed for Clinicians Treating Chronic Constipation and IBS-C
This course is ideal for:
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Gastroenterologists
OB-GYN Providers
Colorectal Specialists
Primary Care Providers
Healthcare Professionals Treating IBS-C and Chronic Constipation
Transform The Way You Evaluate Pelvic Pain
The tailbone may be one of the most overlooked structures in pelvic health.
Learn how to assess it, understand it, and integrate it into your clinical reasoning to unlock better outcomes for your patients.
Enroll Today
Start learning the assessment and treatment strategies that are helping clinicians worldwide approach pelvic health differently.
For questions, contact:
mentoring@pelvichealing.com
Stop Guessing.
Start Understanding the Full Picture.
Constipation is rarely caused by a single system.
Learn how to evaluate chronic constipation, IBS-C, pelvic floor dysfunction, and gut-brain interactions through a collaborative, evidence-informed framework.
Gain the confidence to identify overlooked contributors and create more effective treatment plans for your patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions answered about our services, appointments, and more.
What can I expect when scheduling appointments?
Contact Us
Patients are seen by appointment only by calling 714-770-8222. Initial evaluations consist of a full hour of one-on-one time with a pelvic floor physical therapy specialist.
Initial Evaluation & Follow-up
Once evaluated by one of our therapists, we strongly recommend that you schedule your follow-up appointments in advance. Your therapist will help you to decide on the frequency of your pelvic floor physical therapy appointments to fit your individual needs. Follow-up appointments are 55 minutes of one-on-one time with a pelvic floor physical therapy specialist.
Waiting List
If an appointment is not immediately available, you may request to be placed on the waiting list.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please Allow 24-hours
Due to the high demand for specialized pelvic health services, Sarton Physical Therapy frequently has a waiting list of patients needing treatment. We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. This enables our office to have adequate time to fill your cancelled or re-scheduled appointment with another patient in need. Please call us at 714-770-8222. If you’re unable to reach us please leave a voice-message or email us at frontdesk@pelvichealing.com.
Associated Fees
Appointments cancelled without this notice from you will be automatically charged a cancellation fee. (A credit card is required to hold new patient appointments. In the event of a missed initial evaluation or insufficient time frame for cancellation, the credit card will be charged the initial evaluation cancellation fee).
Case-by-Case Basis
We understand that there may be extenuating circumstances resulting in a cancellation or reschedule with less than 24 hours’ notice. Each incident will be handled on a case-by-case basis. If a patient misses three consecutive appointments, Sarton Physical Therapy reserves the right to cancel all future appointments.
We make every effort to be on time for our patients and ask that you extend the same courtesy to us.
Do you accept insurance or Medicare?
Insurance Policy
- We are an out of network provider for all insurance companies. There is great variety in out-of-network physical therapy benefits. When verifying insurance benefits – it will help to specify that you will be receiving “outpatient physical therapy services” and that Sarton Physical Therapy is “out-of-network.”
- We unfortunately are not contracted with Medicare or accept Medicare insurance (due to declining Medicare reimbursement). Medicare patients, however, can access our ancillary services paying cash for pilates, massage, and acupuncture.
- Patients are fully responsible for knowing their individual insurance plans and coverage for Sarton Physical Therapy services.
What is the difference between out-of-network (cash-based) and in-network physical therapy?
Out-of-network pt vs in-network pt
When it comes to getting pelvic floor PT, different practice models exist. This can be confusing to both patients and providers when making decisions on where to seek care. In an effort to help clear up the muddy waters that surround this, please read below.
Out of network Pelvic PT
Cash-based physical therapy (also known as out of network) is a model where patients can refer themselves directly to their specialist PT and pay directly for services out of pocket. At Sarton PT, our cash based practice is considered out-of-network so patients can still recoup a portion of their payment from their insurance company paid up front. This model allows for us to charge for the time spent (55+ minutes and 1 on 1 with a specialist the entire time), a higher level of experience, a concierge experience and keeps third-party payers out of the mix. This type of model is fee-for-service which means patients pay for each session as they go or they can buy a package of sessions for a discounted rate to complete their plan of care. Our practice then provides a receipt or invoice upon request which can be submitted to an individual’s insurance provider for reimbursement that will go straight to you, the patient.
In-Network Pelvic PT
An insurance based physical therapy model is where patients utilize their in network health insurance benefits to cover the cost of physical therapy. Patients are responsible for their copay, full deductible, or coinsurance for each visit and the remaining cost is covered by their insurance provider. This model will typically dictate how many visits you can be seen for with your therapist, will require you to pay the entire amount up front until you meet your deductible (so if it’s high, you may never meet it), and it will often require authorizations and lengthy reports your PT will need to write which takes away from your hands on treatment time.
Why not stick with an insurance-based practice?
While paying less upfront may initially sound enticing, obtaining physical therapy through insurance has its drawbacks. We highlighted several points above, but below are additional reasons to consider an out-of-network/cash based provider.
- Due to current insurance reimbursement rates, treatment times are usually limited to 20-30 minutes (and that includes the time to get dressed and undressed) when going to in network facilities. In order for these practices to cover costs of physical therapy staffing and overhead they need to see a higher volume of patients every day. To achieve this, in-network PTs must see a patient for shorter times (20-30 minutes) and then often transfer them to a physical therapy aide who only has on the job training and no formal certification. PTs in these types of practices often burn out having to see 16-18 patients/day and co-sign notes from the aides.
- Unexpected denial of coverage of insurance is not uncommon resulting in an in-network practice resulting in patient responsibility of payment in FULL for past and future payments.
- Physical therapy providers who are in-network are limited to an in-network list of providers
- Often patients may have to follow certain rules and restrictions such as obtaining pre-authorization before starting treatment and then obtain further authorization after 6 visits or so.
- In many cases, insurance restrictions severely limit treatment options; for example, physical therapists can only treat a certain body part written on a prescription. This prevents outside the box thinking and treating. All good clinicians know that no system or body part works alone and treatment must be holistic on every level.
- Declining reimbursement each year from insurance companies often causes providers to cut corners, shorten treatments and cram more patients in.
Why choose a cash-based practice?
Although there is a higher financial cost upfront at a cash-based physical therapy practice, you also get what you’re paying for. This includes:
- Longer treatment sessions, anywhere from 55 to 120 minutes, one-on-one with your advanced trained physical therapist (NO AIDES ever). This allows the physical therapist to do their typical treatment in addition to extensive education teaching you to become the CEO of your body, collaborate with your other providers, and teach effective home exercise programs ensuring success.
- Patients know the total cost of their PT session upfront. There are no surprises by insurance companies denying coverage and often patients get a decent amount back from their insurance company for the treatment once they submit their superbill.
- Patients are not limited to a specific list of in-network providers.
- Patients are not beholden to the restrictions placed by insurances (how you are treated, what you have treated, how many times you are able to be treated). Patients can receive the comprehensive treatment they deserve and require addressing all systems and all body parts.
- Patients have more control and flexibility over their plan of care and treatment strategies.
- A concierge experience where the PT is present and focuses solely on the patient without having to worry about passing you off to an aide or hurrying through the treatment in 20 minutes to get to the next patient. Our PTs also are available to do telehealth with you, see MDs with you, and even treat you in the privacy of your home.
Why Sarton Physical Therapy?
Our philosophy is this: Deliver life changing care that utilizes both an external and internal treatment systems approach with advanced manual techniques including visceral mobilization, myofascial release, advanced coccyx, hip, and spinal mobilizations, prescriptive exercise program and extra treatment modalities including a class IV laser to immediately reduce inflammation and pain. We work closely with other health care providers for a team approach and offer acupuncture, guided imagery and osteopathic treatment in addition to PT under one roof.
At Sarton, patients will experience concierge-like services that are not found anywhere else beginning with therapists who are able to take the time to listen to their patients and deliver a unique individualized treatment plan to get you back to doing what you love. Our team is led by a master clinician with 25 years experience in the field who has taught courses nationally and treated thousands of patients over the years successfully. To learn more, please see our website at pelvichealing.com and our IG page @pelvichealing.
Are there any safety precautions I should be aware of before starting therapy?
Sarton Physical Therapy and its affiliates recommend that you contact your physician before participating in any physical therapy, exercise or fitness related programs.
Sarton Physical Therapy and its affiliates are not responsible for any injury or damage that may result from the use of techniques taught or information being provided. This content is provided for informational purposes only and by participating, you are doing so at your own risk.
Is Sarton PT hiring Physical Therapists right now?
Sarton Physical Therapy invites Full & Part-time Physical Therapists with a clinical specialty in Women’s and Men’s Health & Pelvic Rehab to join our team!
Explore this excellent career opportunity to join our close knit team and treat side by side with our WCS and OCS PTs who are leading experts in the field. Opportunities for mentorship and program development are available.
Sarton Physical Therapy is a PT owned private practice outpatient physical therapy clinic in Orange County, CA created to deliver hope and healing for women and men suffering with life altering pelvic floor conditions. Founded by Julie Sarton, DPT, WCS in 2011, Sarton PT has become the foremost pelvic floor physical therapy clinic in Orange County and has tripled in size over the past six years. We currently have 2 office locations with our primary office in Tustin and 1 satellite location in Mission Viejo. Unlike other clinics that offer 30-45 minute treatments, all patient treatments are 55 minutes in length. Our therapists co-treat and work closely with local and national MDs, pain management specialists, guided imagery therapists, sex therapists, yoga and Pilates instructors, acupuncturists and nutritionists facilitating a tailored comprehensive treatment plan for each patient utilizing evidence based practice. Striving to create a higher standard in pelvic floor rehab, our therapists routinely teach and lecture to practitioners and Universities throughout Orange County, attend national conferences and con-ed courses, host annual sexual medicine educational programs and have been published in peer reviewed journals.
If interested – please contact the front desk at frontdesk@pelvichealing.com. We would love to hear from you!