You want to be a better patient advocate. What do you need to know?

1 What is patient advocacy?

Patient advocacy is the act of speaking up for, representing, or assisting patients in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, or legal matters. Patient advocates can be professionals, volunteers, family members, or friends of the patients. They can help with tasks like finding information, communicating with providers, coordinating care, managing bills, resolving complaints, and ensuring patients' rights and preferences are respected.

2 Why is patient advocacy important?

Patient advocacy is important because it can improve the quality, safety, and outcomes of health care for patients and their families. Patients who have advocates are more likely to feel satisfied, informed, and empowered in their health journey. Advocates can also reduce the stress, confusion, and frustration that patients often experience when dealing with complex and fragmented systems. Additionally, patient advocacy can promote social justice and health equity by addressing the barriers and disparities that affect vulnerable and marginalized populations.

3 What skills do you need as a patient advocate?

As a patient advocate, you need a variety of skills to effectively support and empower your clients. Communication is essential; you need to be able to listen actively, speak clearly, ask questions, and convey information in a respectful and empathetic way. You must also be able to communicate with different audiences, such as patients, providers, insurers, and lawyers, adapting your style and tone accordingly. Research is important too; you must be able to find, evaluate, and synthesize relevant and reliable information from various sources. Additionally, you need to be able to present and explain the information to your clients in a way that they can understand and use. Problem-solving is another skill required of patient advocates; you must be able to identify, analyze, and resolve the issues and challenges that your clients face. You also need to be able to think creatively, strategically, and collaboratively to find the best solutions for your clients. Lastly, advocacy is necessary; you must be able to advocate for your clients' rights, interests, and preferences in different situations. You must also empower your clients to advocate for themselves and participate in their own care decisions.

5 How can you learn and improve as a patient advocate?

As a patient advocate, it is essential to be committed to lifelong learning and improvement due to the ever-changing health care field. You can gain knowledge and skills by pursuing formal education or training programs, such as health education, social work, or nursing. You can also gain hands-on experience by working or volunteering as a patient advocate in different settings. Additionally, networking with other patient advocates and health care professionals can help you exchange information and find support for your career development. You can also access various resources that can help you stay informed about the latest trends, research, and best practices in patient advocacy and health care.