Short Answer

In North Carolina personal injury cases, you generally should take your provider’s treatment recommendations seriously and either follow them or get a clear, documented medical reason for any reduced schedule. If you can only attend once a week, tell the provider why and ask them to document an appropriate plan (including home exercises, restrictions, and follow-up timing). Also update your attorney after the appointment so your legal claim and your medical records stay consistent.

Understanding the Problem

If you are pursuing a North Carolina personal injury claim and your provider is about to decide whether you should continue treatment, what should you do when the provider recommends continuing care but you are only going once a week, especially when you have an upcoming assessment appointment and your law firm asked you to report back afterward?

Apply the Law

In a North Carolina injury claim, your medical treatment is not just about feeling better—it also becomes part of the evidence used to evaluate your injuries, whether the crash or incident caused them, and what care was reasonably needed. A common issue in these cases is the argument that an injured person did not act reasonably to improve their condition (often called “mitigating” damages). That does not mean you must do every possible treatment, but it does mean you should act reasonably, communicate with your providers, and avoid unexplained gaps or noncompliance that can be used to question your injuries or the need for ongoing care.

Separately, your medical records and communications with providers are typically obtained and used in the claim. Clear documentation of what was recommended, why the schedule is what it is, and what you are doing between visits can reduce misunderstandings later.

Key Requirements

• Follow reasonable medical advice (or document why you can’t): If the provider recommends more frequent care, ask whether once-weekly visits plus a home plan is medically appropriate, and have the provider document the plan.
• Keep the treatment plan consistent and measurable: Ask for specific goals (pain/function measures), the expected duration, and what would justify discharge versus continued care.
• Avoid unexplained gaps: If you miss visits or reduce frequency, make sure the reason is communicated and recorded (work schedule, transportation, cost, childcare, provider availability, or medical guidance).
• Do the “between-visit” work: If the plan includes home exercises, activity restrictions, or self-care, follow it and tell the provider how it is going so it appears in the chart.
• Communicate with your attorney after key appointments: Provide the updated plan, any work restrictions, and the next follow-up date so your claim can be handled consistently with the medical record.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-53 (Communications between health care provider and patient) - Addresses confidentiality of provider-patient communications and when disclosure can be compelled in court.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-44.1 (Hospital medical records) - Allows hospital medical records to be received as evidence if otherwise admissible and properly tendered/certified.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-412 (Electronic medical records) - Confirms providers may keep electronic records and that legal rights/responsibilities apply the same as paper records.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: You are already treating on a reduced schedule and have an upcoming appointment where the provider will decide whether to continue or end care. The key is to make sure your once-weekly schedule is either (1) what the provider believes is appropriate, or (2) clearly explained and documented as a practical limitation with a medically reasonable alternative plan. After the appointment, you should give your attorney the updated recommendations and next steps so the claim file matches what the medical record shows.

Process & Timing

1. Who acts: You (the patient) and your treating provider. Where: At your provider’s office in North Carolina. What: At the assessment visit, ask the provider to write down the recommended frequency/duration, the goals of treatment, and what you should do at home between visits. When: At the upcoming appointment—do it the same day so it is captured in the chart.
2. Confirm the plan in writing: If you can only attend once weekly, tell the provider the reason and ask whether they can tailor the plan (for example, once weekly plus a home exercise program, or a re-check in a set number of weeks). Ask for a printed visit summary or after-visit instructions.
3. Update your attorney promptly: After the appointment, send your attorney (1) whether treatment continues or ends, (2) the recommended frequency, (3) any restrictions, and (4) the next appointment date. If the provider discharged you, tell your attorney the stated reason for discharge.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• “Noncompliance” notes: If the chart says you are not following recommendations, insurers often use that to argue your symptoms are not serious or that ongoing problems are not related. If you have a real constraint, ask the provider to document it and the modified plan.
• Gaps in treatment without explanation: Long breaks can be portrayed as recovery or lack of need. If you must pause or reduce visits, communicate early and ask for a documented follow-up plan.
• Overtreatment concerns: Continuing care without clear goals or re-evaluation can also create issues. Ask the provider to document objective goals, functional improvements, and a re-check date to decide whether to continue.
• Mixed messages: Telling the provider you feel “fine” while telling others you are struggling can create credibility problems. Be accurate and consistent about symptoms and limits.
• Doing less than the home plan: If the provider relies on home exercises because visits are less frequent, not doing them can slow recovery and may be noted in the record. If something hurts or is not working, report it so the plan can be adjusted.

Conclusion

If your North Carolina provider recommends continuing treatment but you are only attending once a week, the safest approach is to either follow the recommended schedule or ask the provider to document a medically appropriate modified plan that fits your constraints. That helps show you acted reasonably and keeps your medical record clear. Next step: at your upcoming appointment, ask the provider to document the recommended frequency, duration, and home plan, then send that update to your attorney the same day.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with a provider recommending continued care while your treatment schedule is limited, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand how treatment decisions and documentation can affect a North Carolina personal injury claim and what timelines to watch. Reach out today.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.