Patient advocate: Patient advocates specialize, too
How many recognized medical specialties are there in the U.S.? Go ahead, take a guess.
Answer: More than 135, and that’s just doctors, not counting nurses, technicians, paramedics and other medical professionals.
But did you know that patient advocates can also specialize? Depending on what kind of advocacy you feel you or a loved one needs, there may be a patient advocate who offers just that.
My colleague Brad Schwartz, a Chicago attorney who founded Greater National Advocates (gnanow.org), does us all a favor by explaining the different ways in which patient advocates specialize.
Brad launched his nonprofit website to help others find private patient advocates after a harrowing medical experience — which left him a quadruple amputee because of a life-threatening infection — made him realize how easily things can go off the rails in our health care system.
As Brad and I like to point out, when we have a complicated legal issue, we consult lawyers. When our taxes get complex, we find a CPA to help. It’s the same with medical issues we don’t understand or feel “something isn’t right.” Then you have to ask yourself, “Do I need a patient advocate?”
Private patient advocates may specialize in one or more of these areas.
Medical guidance
This is where I have spent most of my career. A medically-trained advocate works to improve communication between the medical team, patient and family members. Very often, situations can be improved just by translating medical-ese into English. And sometimes, someone who knows the medical jargon can communicate more effectively with the medical team.
Another advantage is that a medical advocate can help plan your discharge and make sure you have the support you need for a successful recovery.
Complex and senior care
Many families are far-flung these days, and often adult children aren’t able to be on the scene with aging parents. Long-distance caregiving is hard.
Patient advocates can evaluate parents’ daily needs, develop and implement care plans, and address common safety concerns, like trip hazards. If it’s time for an older adult to explore a senior living community, they can also help explore those options to make sure all medical, cultural and social needs are being considered.
Insurance and billing challenges
I find that a lot of clients, and people in general, don’t really understand the terms of their policies, which leads to insurance denials, insurance appeals or loss of coverage.
Also, health systems are not infallible when it comes to billing. Not long ago, a little bit of investigation turned a $4,000 bill into a $400 one.
Some patient advocates specialize in challenging medical bills and insurance payouts. These advocates aren’t necessarily medically trained, but they know their way around billing codes, copays and common pitfalls. They help with appealing denials of benefits and getting pre-authorizations, and may even help you compare insurance options.
Wellness and lifestyle support
The buzzword in health care these days is “whole-person care.” You can think of these advocates as coaches, helping you develop healthy lifestyle choices through education and encouragement. After a tough course of therapy or hospitalization, they may assist in rebuilding strength and self-esteem.
If you’re interested in exploring non-traditional or alternative approaches to health and wellness, they can help you separate fact from fiction and pursue proven therapies.
Peer and survivor support
The trauma and uncertainty that come with a new and frightening diagnosis can be difficult to navigate. These advocates specialize in listening to patients and sharing first-hand experiences about conditions, treatments and procedures.
Based on their experiences, they provide realistic expectations of treatments, and can connect patients and their families with support groups and counseling services.
Are all of these specialties available everywhere? Not necessarily. But if you’re looking for a particular kind of advocacy, Greater National Advocates can help you find the right person. As a professional patient advocate, I am also happy to offer readers a free consultation.
Also, keep in mind that one medically trained advocate can help out in more than one type of situation. Best of all, the advocate you choose will work only for you, not for a doctor, hospital, health system or insurance company.
• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg, R.N., a registered nurse and board-certified patient advocate, is the founder of NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com, which trains medical professionals to become successful private patient advocates. She is the author of “How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones” and her new book, “Advocating Well: Strategies for Finding Strength and Understanding in Health Care,” available at Amazon.com. Contact her at Teri@NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com to set up a free phone consultation.