Understanding Patient Advocacy

• Patient advocacy aims to focus on the patient's well-being
• Patients have the right to be informed, involved, and supported concerning their health decisions
• Patient advocacy cycle includes: communication, resource utilization, problem-solving, empowerment and coordination

Patient Advocacy Protects

• Patients' privacy rights in healthcare
• Allows patients' voices to be heard by efficient communication
• Helps patients understand diagnosis and make informed medical decisions while respecting autonomy
• Assists with insurance and billing
• Ensures patients receive necessary care and respect
• Avoids patient discrimination

Patient Advocates

• Patient advocates can be healthcare professionals, family members, caregivers, friends, or the patient themselves
• Healthcare should not be confusing, and patients should feel confident about their healthcare decisions

Patient Advocacy Eligiblity

• Any person who receives health care is entitled to patient advocacy

Importance of Patient Advocacy

• Ensures patient safety by reducing medical errors caused by miscommunications between patient and provider
• Organizations work to ensure standards and protocols are upheld, including sanitation and proper training
• Promotes equity in health care delivery by removing barriers that may inhibit a patient from equal health care opportunities
• Barriers include income, language, location, and race
• Advocates can work to expand insurance coverage
• Improves patient outcomes, incorporating patient preferences into treatment plans increases adherence
• A 2022 CHCAO study involving 188 patient/caregivers, 262 advocates, and 91 providers:
  • 92% of patients felt a positive impact on their health care
  • 98% of providers felt a positive impact on patient outcome
  • 92% of providers felt advocates decreased staff burden

Key Skills for Patient Advocates

• Effective interpersonal skills, especially active listening and clear communication
• It is important to accurately convey patients' concerns and questions to healthcare providers with these skills
• Helpful for explaining medical terms, billing, insurance, etc. in an easy way for the patient to understand
• Compassion is important to empathize during challenging times and be a steady support as patients navigate their healthcare journey
• Advocates help patients make informed choices about everything from insurance to treatment by using problem-solving, doing research, and carefully looking at options
• An understanding of the health system and medical terminology is helpful

Duties and Responsibilities of Patient Advocates

• Scheduling medical appointments
• Aiding a patient in accessing financial and legal resources
• Negotiating and reviewing medical bills to ensure their accuracy
• Taking notes of what happens during medical visits
• Connecting a patient with support groups and other social resources
• Supporting patients' rights
• Helping patients with completing forms and applications

Health Professionals and Advocacy

• Actively support and protect their patients' rights.
• Ensure access to necessary care.
• Navigate patients through the healthcare system by:
  • Being their voice.
  • Explaining complex medical bills and procedures.
  • Educating them on medical procedures.
  • Ensuring they understand their privacy rights.

Strategies (Individual)

• Build a strong patient relationship to understand the patient's concerns and create a safe, comfortable environment
• Teach patients ways to advocate for themselves by encouraging them to take notes, ask questions, and understand their rights
• Thoroughly document interactions and use strong documentation
• Follow up with patients after appointment to check if they have received necessary referrals/medications
• Advocate for policy changes by signing petitions and attending meetings to support better healthcare policies

Strategies (Organizational)

• Train the healthcare staff in patient advocacy and teach all healthcare workers how to effectively recognize and address patient needs
• Implement patient centered policies and make guidelines that prioritize the needs and safety of the patients
• Offer patient assistance programs to help patients with medical challenges
• Collaborate with local and national groups to expand resources
• Monitor and evaluate advocacy efforts by assessing and adjusting strategies to enhance effectiveness

Conclusion

• Anyone receiving medical treatment is entitled to patient advocacy and there is no limitation on who can be an advocate
• Patient advocacy promotes efficient and effective care, ensuring the patient is fully aware and involved in their treatment plan
• Advocates use interpersonal skills to help patients navigate healthcare, like medications, insurance, billing, access to care, and patient autonomy
• Providers build strong patient-provider relationships with communication, allowing for more cohesive effort in determining treatment options and better patient outcomes

Patient advocacy ensures patients are informed, involved, and supported in their healthcare decisions. It protects patient privacy, promotes communication, and helps patients understand diagnoses. Advocates assist with billing, ensure necessary care, and prevent discrimination, empowering patients in their healthcare journey.