How to advocate for yourself with your healthcare provider

February 2022 Joint Ventures Physical Therapy Team

Think about or write down your symptoms prior to your appointment:

A well-thought-out list of symptoms can help improve clear communication between you and your PT/healthcare provider which may help them to make a more accurate diagnosis.

Notice what activities are limited and have an idea of what activities you would like to get back to:

One of the main focuses of PT is to keep you active! Your PT will likely ask you to estimate how long you can tolerate certain activities or positions, so pay attention to your limitations before your appointment.

Be ready to have the body part that is bothering you examined:

It is helpful if you wear clothes that are stretchy so the area can be exposed.

Ask questions:

You will have better results if you know what is happening with your body. Ask any questions that you have, and if you don’t understand something, ask your PT to explain it in a different way.

Voice your concerns:

If you have concerns about what you may be experiencing, your PT can provide you with information about how they formed your treatment plan. Your PT can also modify your treatment plan according to your concerns.

Take notes:

It can be difficult to remember information given at medical appointments. Feel free to write down key points during the appointment!

Consider finding a different provider if you don’t click with your healthcare provider:

You should feel supported and cared for by your healthcare provider. This may take a few tries. Be persistent in finding healthcare providers that you click with.

Patient Advocacy in 2024: New Tools and Resources

Using Digital Tools for Better Healthcare Advocacy: Technology has given patients powerful new tools for advocacy. Patient portals (available through most electronic health records like MyChart, Athenahealth, and others) allow you to access your medical records, test results, referrals, and visit summaries — often before you leave the building. In Massachusetts, the MassHealth patient portal and Commonwealth Connect have expanded access for state insurance patients. Federal law (the 21st Century Cures Act, fully implemented by 2021) mandates that patients have prompt electronic access to their medical records and clinical notes. Reviewing your notes after appointments allows you to clarify what was discussed, ensure accuracy, and track your progress over time.

Telehealth for PT: An Option Worth Knowing About: Since the pandemic expansion of telehealth coverage, many insurance plans — including Medicare and MassHealth — have continued to cover telehealth PT visits for certain patients. While hands-on care requires in-person visits, telehealth PT can be highly effective for exercise instruction, movement assessment, and check-ins between in-person appointments. If travel or scheduling is a barrier to consistent PT attendance, ask your provider whether telehealth options are available for some of your care.

The Right to a Second Opinion: In Massachusetts, patients have the right to seek a second opinion from another provider at any time, and in most cases, insurance must cover it. If you have been told you need surgery or a major intervention, seeking a second opinion — including from a physical therapist — is not disrespectful to your provider; it is an informed, appropriate step. Research consistently shows that second opinions change or refine recommendations in 20-30% of cases for complex diagnoses. PTs can offer an important perspective on whether conservative management has been fully exhausted before surgical intervention is pursued.