Public Health Project: Patient Advocacy PDF

 🩺 What is patient advocacy? ➔ To someone without prior healthcare knowledge or experience, navigating the healthcare system can be difficult or seem daunting, but the goal of patient advocacy focuses on the well-being of the patient. Patients have the rig...

 🩺 What is patient advocacy? ➔ To someone without prior healthcare knowledge or experience, navigating the healthcare system can be difficult or seem daunting, but the goal of patient advocacy focuses on the well-being of the patient. Patients have the right to be informed, involved, and supported when it comes to decisions regarding their health. Patient Advocacy Exists to: Ensure that patients’ rights such as privacy are protected in healthcare Allow patients’ voices to be heard by efficient communication Help patients understand their diagnosis and make informed medical decisions while respecting their autonomy Assist with insurance and billing Ensure patients are receiving the necessary care and respect Avoid patient discrimination Who is a patient advocate? Patient advocates can be healthcare professionals, family members, caregivers, a friend, or even the patient themselves. Healthcare should not have to be confusing, and patients should be apart of and feel confident about the decisions made regarding their health. Who is eligible to receive patient advocacy? Eligibility ANY person who receives health care is entitled to patient advocacy  Importance of Patient Advocacy Ensuring patient safety ○ Leading cause of medical errors are miscommunications or misunderstandings between patient and their provider Medication dosing, wound care, provider understanding complaints ○ Organizations work to ensure standards and protocol are being upheld Sanitation, proper training Promoting equity in health care delivery ○ Advocates work to remove barriers that may be inhibiting a patient from receiving equal health care opportunities Income, language, location, race Expanding insurance coverage Importance of Patient Advocacy Improving patient outcomes ○ Incorporating a patients’ preferences and/or beliefs into a treatment plan is shown to increase patient adherence to the plan, ultimately leading to better outcomes ○ 2022 CHCAO study involving 188 patient and 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 What key skills and responsibilities are required for a patient advocate to succeed?  Key Skills To be effective, a patient advocate must possess key interpersonal skills, especially active listening and clear communication. These abilities allow them to accurately convey the patient’s concerns and questions to healthcare providers. These skills also help the advocate explain things in a way that's easy for the patient to understand, whether it's medical terms, billing, insurance, or anything else.  More Key Skills Empathy and Compassion ○ Being a patient advocate means helping people through challenging times, so it’s important to truly empathize with their situation. At its core, the role is about showing compassion and being a steady support as patients navigate their healthcare journey. Problem-solving skills ○ Advocates help patients make informed choices about everything from insurance to treatment by using problem-solving, doing research, and carefully looking at all the options. Knowledge of Basic Medical Terms ○ Patient advocates need to have a strong grasp of how the healthcare system works, along with a good understanding of medical terminology. They should be comfortable with things like common medical abbreviations, reading health records, and other related tasks. Duties and Responsibilities There is a wide range of responsibilities, but some include: Scheduling medical appointments Aiding a patient in accessing financial and legal resources. Negotiating and reviewing medical bills to ensure their accuracy. Keeping notes of what happens during medical visits Helping a patient connect with support groups and other social resources. Supporting patients’ rights Assisting patients with completing forms and applications. The Role of Health Professionals in Advocacy Healthcare Professionals’ roles stay consistent in advocacy over the wide variety of jobs this umbrella term covers. They should always: 1. Actively support and protect their patients rights 2. Ensure access to necessary care 3. Help navigate patients through the healthcare system by a. Being their voice b. Explaining complex medical bills c. Educating them on their medical procedures d. Ensuring they understand their privacy rights Strategies: Individual 1. Build a strong patient relationship Understand the patient’s concerns and create a safe, comfortable environment 2. Teach patients ways to advocate for themselves Encourage patients to take notes, ask questions, and understand their rights 3. Use strong documentation Thoroughly document interactions including discussions and treatments 4. Follow up with patients Check in with patients after appointment to see if they have received necessary referrals/medications 5. Advocate for policy changes Sign petitions and attend meetings to support better healthcare policies Strategies: Organizational 1. Train the healthcare staff in patient advocacy Teach all healthcare workers how to effectively recognize and address patient needs 2. Implement patient centered policies Make guidelines that prioritize the needs and safety of the patients 3. Offer patient assistance programs Offer case managers or helplines to assist patients with medical challenges 4. Collaborate with local/national groups Partner with other organizations to expand resources 5. Monitor and evaluate advocacy efforts Asses and adjust strategies to enhance effectiveness Conclusion Anyone receiving medical treatment is entitled to receive patient advocacy and there is no limitation on who can be an advocate. Patient advocacy promotes efficient and effective care for the patient, ensuring the patient is both fully aware and involved in what their treatment plan is. An advocate uses their set of interpersonal skills to help patients navigate the healthcare system through things like medications, insurance and billing, access to care, and maintaining patient autonomy. As a provider, our role in patient advocacy becomes even more centered around the patient. Building strong patient-provider relationships with communication at the foundation allows for a more cohesive effort in determining treatment options and ultimately resulting in better outcomes for the patient. Test Your Knowledge 1. T/F where someone lives is a factor in determining equity of healthcare delivery? True! Patient advocates work to reduce boundaries that may affect an individuals access to medicine , geographic location being one of these boundaries 2. Can someone give a situation in which patient advocacy would be utilized? 3. What two skills are needed to effectively convey the patient’s questions and concerns to the healthcare provider? Active listening and Clear Communication References 1. Writer SN. How patients can help you achieve patient-centered care. American Medical Association. February 16, 2015. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/physician-patient-relationship/how-patients-can-help-you-achieve-patient- centered?utm_source=chatgpt.com. 2. Dave R, Friedman S, Miller-Sonet E, et al. Identifying and addressing the needs of caregivers of patients with cancer: Evidence on interventions and the role of patient advocacy groups. Future Oncology. 2024;20(33):2589-2602. doi:10.1080/14796694.2024.2387526 3. The impact of patient advocacy on healthcare. Patient Care Partners. October 10, 2023. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://patientcarepartners.org/2023/10/10/the-impact-of-patient-advocacy-on-healthcare/. 4. Jtormey. The importance of patient advocacy in healthcare. Guideway Care. October 30, 2024. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://guidewaycare.com/understanding-why-is-patient-advocacy-important-for-quality-care/. 5. Staff C. What is a patient advocate? (and what do they do). Coursera. Updated December 17, 2024. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://www.coursera.org/articles/patient-advocate. 6. Chioma Anthonia Okolo, Scholastica Ijeh, Jeremiah Olawumi Arowoogun, Adekunle Oyeyemi Adeniyi, Olufunke Omotayo. Healthcare Managers’ role in addressing Health Disparities: A review of Strategies. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences. 2024;6(4):518-531. doi:10.51594/ijarss.v6i4.989