Some advocates work for large institutions. These ‘corporate advocates’ work for major companies, hospitals, and insurance companies. These are employees beholden to their employers. They focus on reducing corporate costs, not what’s best for patients. Independent advocates see this as a direct conflict and work only on their client’s behalf. Independent advocates always place their clients first and foremost. We remain autonomous and patient-focused even when a ‘guarantor,’ such as a loved one, friend, or employer, pays for advocacy services. 

The state of healthcare:
The ‘system’ is so difficult to navigate that many people, even when not ill or overwhelmed, cannot get the care and attention they need. These same people may get unwanted/unneeded care that can delay or even prevent a proper diagnosis. Many surgeons spend more time obtaining insurance approvals than performing actual surgery.

Intelligent people who easily research schools, property, cars, electronics, investments, or services quickly get frustrated when researching the best doctors; all they find is marketing material. Empirical data is not available to the public.

Healthcare workers suffer from burnout and fatigue, contributing to suboptimal care, especially in settings with low resources and high patient turnover. These create more situations where people can benefit from working with a care manager, medical navigator, health advocate, care planner, or whatever else one calls a patient advocate.

Caregiver shortages:
Most patient care in hospitals comes from nurses. The estimated nursing shortage in the U.S. is between 200,000 and 450,000. They now have less time with each patient than ever before. The American Medical Association estimates a deficit of over 150,000 surgeon specialists and primary care physicians. Therefore, the bar for care excellence can be low. All care providers have less time per patient than ever.

These facts remain regardless of your gender, insurance coverage, or wealth. With such drastic shortages, how will you find the best caregivers and the treatment you need? For many, the answer is a patient advocate.

Medical Errors:
During provider shortages, medical errors increase, and obtaining proper care becomes more challenging.

Living longer and the growth of chronic illness:
People live longer and recover from more conditions. Many who might have died of a heart attack a generation ago will live to 75 or even 100. The downside is that it gives us time to develop a variety of illnesses we otherwise wouldn’t. Treating these conditions in advanced age becomes increasingly tricky. Errors increase negative impact, and options are more limited. More people needing more care over extended periods, combined with staffing shortages, increases room for error and results in patients getting less care than needed. These people can improve their odds of success with the help of patient advocacy.

Neonatal care:
Care for premature and other ill infants has resulted in newborns who would have never survived a generation ago. While miraculous in many respects, these infants grow up to be adults, typically with a lifetime of chronic disease. They often have heart, lung, and neurologic issues that require care for their entire lives. Advocates can help these patients and families get better care.

Relocation and the schedules of loved ones:
Even when immediate family live nearby and are capable and want to help, their work, child care schedules, and required sleep can interfere with their ability to help loved ones when needed. A knowledgeable patient advocate can help support patients and those who love them by assisting them with shared decision-making, attending doctor’s appointments, and sitting bedside at the hospital.

Sometimes you can advocate for yourself or a loved one, and I encourage everyone to learn the processes. However, to advocate well requires unique skill sets, temperament, and knowledge. Making sound decisions can be challenging when hospitalized or dealing with serious medical issues. Fighting for a loved one to get a test or treatment approved can be daunting to the uninitiated. Discharges, transitions from facility to facility, and facility to home are where many problems occur. No matter how available and willing a loved one might be, they cannot always be there for the patient. It’s also tricky to recognize the most critical times to be there. An advocate can provide support when needed, demand clarity, and reduce the odds of medical errors occurring. 

Everyone can use help identifying and selecting better caregivers, but the process is frustrating. People comfortable doing other types of research become frustrated by the lack of data on a surgeon’s skill and patient outcomes. Subsequently, they make decisions based on irrelevant information such as “She seems so nice!’, “He spent so much time with me.” or, “Bob said she was a good surgeon.” Too often, people choose the first surgeon that tells them they need an operation without exploring their options.

Most advocates are former clinicians, medical administrators, and social workers. My experience is in the operating room. I trained surgeons to use specialty medical devices in hip, knee, spine, trauma, and laparoscopic/robotic surgeries. Virtually all advocates experienced shock and frustration with ‘the system.’ Concern about patient care, billing, miscommunication, and medical errors made many of us become advocates. Most started helping family and friends, who then referred colleagues, friends of friends, and neighbors. While seeking to learn, collaborate, and become better advocates, many became Board-Certified Patient Advocates (BCPAs), as I have. Passing the Board requires a broad knowledge of the U.S. medical system, ethics, and advocacy.

While I believe everyone, at some point, can benefit from the services of a patient advocate, insurers do not reimburse for the expense. Further, it would be a conflict for an independent advocate to be paid by an insurance company since advocates often challenge insurance companies’ decisions regarding coverage, make appeals, and fight insurers on behalf of their clients.

Both. I can meet clients anywhere but charge for travel time and expenses beyond 30 minutes from my Northern California base. Therefore, remote meetings, even doctor appointments, can be practical and more cost-efficient.

Your advocacy package is just that, ‘yours,’ and it’s fully customizable. It can consist of a single strategizing session, exploring multiple doctors’ opinions, and discovering available treatment options. We can be retained to address ongoing and future medical needs. We can design a package to help you find, analyze, and choose better caregivers, inspect billing discrepancies, and attend doctor appointments for you to gain clarity on complex diagnoses and treatment options.

Packages start at $695 for a 3.5-hour consult. Service retainers are available with multi-hour discounts. Unused time rolls over and never expires, so you have it when needed.

While the cost may seem high, most clients find comfort in knowing they make better-informed decisions after expanding their knowledge and understanding their options. These clients become more at ease and see advocacy as money well spent. Schedule a free 20-minute appointment to see if we’re a good fit and to learn if independent patient advocacy is right for you.

Some employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (AEPs) as part of their benefits package. These employers recognize that the services of an advocate can get their valuable employees healthy, productive, and back to work sooner.

My clients come from various backgrounds, from high net-worth individuals and financially secure families to those less fortunate whom I assist on a sliding scale or pro bono basis as my schedule allows.