Patient Advocacy
Because You Matter
Because You Matter
What is Patient Advocacy?
Patient Advocacy contains numerous services, all with the goal of supporting your healthcare needs to ensure you get the best care possible. Some of the services I offer, include: medical care coordination, preparation for medical appointments, accompaniment to vital appointments, hospitalizations, in patient rehabilitation or end of life care, information and resources that will help you feel heard and make informed healthcare decisions, translation of medical terminology, facilitation of communication (between you, your doctors and your loved ones), assistance with paperwork after the passing of a spouse, and assistance with insurance appeals/denials. Aging is hard enough, let alone trying to do it alone. You don't have to be alone though in your healthcare journey - I am here for you! I will help you navigate difficult medical challenges with compassion, integrity, professionalism and kindness.
Who is Patient Advocacy for?
The need for medical care coordination or hospitalizations resulting from terminal disease diagnoses or progressions, unexpected illnesses, or accidents can often disrupt not only a patient’s life but also the lives of family members or loved ones. Having a patient advocate can be a godsend to help with the stress and overwhelm when one doesn’t have a readily available support system or knowledge of healthcare processes. Whether you are a “solo” ager, caring for or worried about a loved one in need of assistance, or unfamiliar with your healthcare rights and need to know how to best navigate your healthcare systems, advocacy can help. Regardless of the reason or need, this service is for those desiring a higher level of medical care and support for themselves or their loved ones.
What private patient advocacy includes
- Flexible hours for medical appointment attendance or hospitalization coverage includes AM, PM or combination of both
- Daily updates (choice of text, email, phone or combination of your preference)
- Ensuring the patients physical, mental and emotional needs are met during hospitalizations and in-patient rehab. Ensuring their wishes are honored
- Encouragement and companionship during hospitalizations or in-patient rehab to help expedite a return to optimal health and better health outcomes
- Education, information and resources to allow clients to make the best healthcare decisions for them
- Crisis care management
- Research to provide clients resources about treatment options
- Coordinating care and second opinions at clients request
- Remote or in person home visit wellness checks
- Medication review and management
- Accompaniment to doctors appointments
- Compassionate support and companionship during end of life care
What patient advocacy does NOT include
- Medical decisions – all medical decisions are the sole responsibility of the patient, guardian or their designated power of attorney
- Insurance decisions or financial decisions– all healthcare insurance or financial decisions are the sole responsibility of the patient, guardian or designated power of attorney
- Legal Services
- Home health services
Why hire a patient advocate
Time Constraints – family members or loved ones may have a busy or demanding schedules or the inability to commit significant time to ensure consistent quality of medical care for their loved one. As a patient advocate, I do my best to make time for you, 24/7.
Lack of Healthcare Knowledge – It is easy to feel overwhelmed by a healthcare system and all of its intricacies to get a person well. Often patients or their loved ones are unsure of what is appropriate, what to ask for or what to expect. You never have to feel alone with an advocate by your side.
Facilitates Effective Communication– often multiple specialists, nurses, hospitalists, and techs are involved during a patients hospital stay. The physicians come and go at various times and often do not interact with each other. A physicians notes may not be put in the patients chart or EMR (electronic medical record) right away, resulting in critical information not be passed on in a timely manner. Being able to effectively relay this information ensures a better team approach with greater medical results.
Allows clear guidelines and expectations to be relayed – Ensuring continual communication of the agreed upon treatment plan between the patient and all others is of the upmost importance for ensuring the patients needs are being appropriately met and their wishes honored. Keeping communication lines open between the patient, his/her spouse and/or family, and his/her care team helps ensure quality care and peace of mind.
Provides motivation and encouragement – research shows the benefits of maintaining a positive mindset and the impact it has on a person’s physical and psychological wellbeing. Positive mindset helps decrease anxiety, depression, and stress and can actually improve longevity.
Helps improve patient outcomes – Nurses and techs are busy and often don’t have the time to meet the needs of patients in a way they would desire. Having additional support is a tremendous help to the nurses, encourages quality care, and speeds up the recovery process for the patient.
Helps support patient safety – having someone sit by the patients bed to prevent falls or speak up for them when needed, helps ensure patient safety. This provides a peace of mind for the patient and their loved ones.
Patient Advocacy contains numerous services, all with the goal of supporting your healthcare needs to ensure you get the best care possible. Some of the services I offer, include: medical care coordination, preparation for medical appointments, accompaniment to vital appointments , information and resources that will help you feel heard and make informed healthcare decisions, translation of medical terminology, facilitation of communication (between you, your doctors and your loved ones), assistance with paperwork after the passing of a spouse , assistance with insurance denials/appeals, and accompaniment services for hospitalizations, in patient rehabilitation or end of life care. Aging is hard enough, let alone trying to do it alone. You do not have to be alone though in your healthcare journey - I am here for you! I will help you navigate those difficult medical challenges with compassion, integrity, professionalism and kindness.
what they say...
Work with me
Healthcare
Navigation
- Accompaniment / sitting services during hospitalization
- Prepare for and accompany to physician appointments
- Help explain diagnosis and treatment options
- Communicate and coordinate with healthcare team
- Ensure wishes are honored during medical crisis
- Ensure patients dignity and access to quality care during hospitalizations
- Facilitate scheduling of services as requested by healthcare team
Case Management & Care Coordination
- Manage transitions between hospital, rehab, nursing facility, and/or home
- Introduce community resources and support systems
- Research and provide options for second opinion
- Provide health updates to family members as requested
- Provide education and resources to empower client
- Individualized home check in visits
- Coordinate medical services (medical appointments, diagnostic testing, evaluations, etc)
Insurance Denials / Appeals
- Contact insurance company for appeal process
- Complete all forms to appeal insurance denials and provide follow-up
- Escalate denials as allowed per insurance policy specifics
Death of a Spouse Paperwork
- Assist with funeral arrangement tasks as requested
- Help with any items of 26 items on checklist following death of a spouse
- Provide grief support and resources