Many patients who need care from a skilled physical therapist don’t know which individual or clinic is best for them, and depend on doctor referrals to point them in the right direction. Many patients trust their own physician’s opinion on such matters and make an appointment with no further questioning on their part.

What many patients don’t understand is that many doctors refer patients based on who they know through physical therapy marketing, and not who they know on a professional level. A large portion of physicians don’t know very much about physical therapy, and many believe that one therapist is just as qualified as the next, which is rarely true. Patients need a therapist who is skilled in the area of the body that is affecting them.

Patients who become their own advocates often find that they receive much better care. Patients first need to know what they want in a physical therapist before they begin searching for one that will best fit their physical therapy needs. Making a want-list is easy and a good guide when looking for a physical therapist. The therapist’s age, gender, location, experience level, and particular skill area will help narrow down choices. Local therapists can usually be found in the yellow pages. Therapists who don’t fit into a patient’s list are easily excluded. If information about particular therapists are desired, reviews from previous patients can often be found on many online websites. Patients in smaller areas and towns may find it helpful to look at larger cities in their search.

Many insurance companies today require referrals from primary care physicians for additional care. If a patient asks to be referred to a therapist he or she has chosen without the doctor’s help, it’s good manners to give the referring doctor information during a follow-up appointment about care received from the therapist.