January 21, 2021
What is a Patient Advocate
WHAT IS A PATIENT ADVOCATE
Patient Advocacy is a relatively new profession. Which is why the question gets asked so often “What is the role of a Patient Advocate?”. The answer is, it depends. Patient Advocacy can be so many different things.
Many advocates have specialties which can include, but not limited to:
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- Chronic Lung Disease
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s
- Diabetes
- Kidney Disease
- Geriatrics
- Preventative Medicine
- Medication Analysis
- Medical Billing
- Clinical Trial & Experimental Medication
- Case Management
- Hospitalization Support
BUT WHAT DOES A PATIENT ADVOCATE ACTUALLY DO?
It really depends on the needs of the client. But in general, you can think about a patient advocate as an expert that purely has your best interest at heart. Don’t get me wrong, most healthcare professionals truly want you go get well, and do their best to make that happen. But it is the human factor that gets in the way.
Your healthcare providers are human and they make mistakes. According to a John Hopkins study, 250,000 die every year from medical errors. Other studies quote as high as 400,000. Imagine what those numbers really mean, and how that could affect you and your family.
Hiring a person “outside of the system” that has actually been “inside the system” can reap a lot of benefits. The greatest asset of a patient advocate is their experience. Most patient advocates have worked in the field that they specialize in. Why is this important?Knowledge is Power.
Let’s provide an example. If you hire a Patient Advocate Nurse that specializes in Cancer treatments, and she worked as a Cancer Nurse for 20 years, she is going to have insights on every aspect of your care. She will be able to case manager your care, identify alternative treatment options, be aware of typical medical errors of treatment and be able to walk you through your entire medical journey.
WITH EXPERIENCE COMES KNOWLEDGE
It is very important when hiring a patient advocate that you know their experience both as a professional “on the inside” and a patient advocate.
a patient advocate could save your life
With the rise of technology, you can literally hire a patent advocate that fits your specific needs from anywhere in the world. Care plans and treatments options are often regional, regulated by hospital beuracracy and/or the personal experience of a physician/specialist. When faced with a devastating illness, you want to know that the options given to you are the very best for you. You need someone that will seek out those options that may not be available in your region or to the general public.
Some Patient Advocates specialize in Clinical Trials and Experimental Medicines. These treatments can literally be, live saving.
SO HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATIENT ADVOCATE?
Choosing an advocate that fits you and your specific case can be daunting task itself. Be calm and follow these simple rules:
- hire someone with experience
- ask explicitly about experience
- ask for references
- ask for interview over video chat
- ask for the basic outline of services
IS HIRING AN ADVOCATE REALLY WORTH IT?
For someone that is healthy, you probably don’t need a patient advocate. However, if you have any ailment that would be considered chronic or acute in nature, you should consider hiring an advocate.
I will leave you with another last thought. Most advocates also review medical bills. You many want to consider the cost of having an advocate and getting better healthcare, could quite possibly be recovered from the advocate herself.
