Who are Patient Advocates?
Advocacy in health care has been previously dominated by doctors, medical-social workers, nurses and public health specialists. In the recent years, as PTs have started to fully utilize all the tools acquired during their entry-level education, it has become an emerging area of practice aiding our effort to focus on prevention, wellness and health promotion. Health care advocacy is the act of looking out for or promoting the interest of patients, professionals and organizations involved in health care delivery. This article seeks to address how PTs can increase their professional visibility in their various communities, supporting their clients’ causes, while simultaneously benefiting from the outcome. PT advocates seek to empower patients/clients by making accessible relevant resources that aid patient recovery or facilitate rehabilitation. The patient or client is taught appropriate use of available resources. Also, the PT advocate employs unique marketing skills such as involvement
