What is A Patient Advocate anyway?

Have you heard of any of these terms before: health advocates, patient or health navigators, case or care managers, or doulas? All these individuals are patient advocates.  They serve many different purposes and areas of specialization ranging from guiding patients from all life cycles and medical conditions. They educate, support, and empower individuals and their loved ones to get the healthcare they need. You may encounter patient advocates in the hospital, clinics, nursing homes, and the community. There are also advocates who work as case managers through insurance companies. We come in so many forms, all working to help people navigate the complicated landscape of healthcare.

As a RN and Nurse Practitioner for over 20 years, I found empowering my patients the most fulfilling part of my job. Once people understand what their options are and the pros and cons of their choices, they can move forward. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with life’s many responsibilities and ignore changes in your health until things go wrong. Once that happens, many react with anxiety from a new diagnosis, new symptoms, fear of the impact on their future, and the effort it takes to figure out what’s next. It can be so hard to even know where to start. I love to jump into those overwhelming situations and create order. Partnering with the patient, we review their options and create a roadmap from the present circumstances to the patient’s goals for an outcome.

Contact me for a free consultation at advocatepath.com, sbarsky@advocatepath.com or #240-418-5024

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