Patient Advocacy’s Post

This summer, I’ve had the opportunity to take some big first steps into my chosen career within the world of healthcare. Pursuing my passion in care and services and rooting purpose in patient advocacy. In these past three months, I’ve been able to observe care and services principles placed in action for the first time. There have been moments where I felt my purpose was served, and there were also times I was astonished to witness compromised ethics in how people were served. Within the environment of a renal care facility, this has been my first exposure to real patient care. These observations have enlightened me as a result, and I would like to share them with you all. Whether you are in healthcare or not, human rights are important, and the protection around them needs to be talked about more. Integrity is not as common and easy to find as you may think it is in this world of service. As sobering as that realization is, it has allowed me to see that true compassion, selflessness, and the motivation to speak for those who aren’t heard is needed now more than ever. Patient advocacy begins before you step onto the grounds of a facility, because it’s rooted in the commitment to do the right thing, no matter the obstacle. It remains constant throughout every minute you interact with the world. For patient advocacy reaches lengths farther than that of care and services, but extends from the need to raise standards. It’s been my observation that the standard of care is no longer anchored in what’s best for the patient. It seems to now be anchored in staff convenience and the efficiency of billing. I’ve found that unfortunately, person-centered thinking isn’t always the first lens through which healthcare workers can view patients. A patient is seen with the need for a treatment of their symptoms. Instead, I feel it’s important we see a person, that in their vulnerability seeks care. When presented with these individuals who trust and place their lives in our hands, I feel it is strictly our duty to serve in honesty and advocate on their behalf. Simply the ideas of maintaining integrity, when it is most difficult to and easier to chose an option that isn’t in the patients’ best interest, and the idea of always advocating for a patient have been very big takeaways for me. While I approach presenting these lessons in a humble manner, I want to reiterate my perspective. I am by no means an experienced individual in this field, but I feel that I can offer a perspective from a fresh set of eyes. Just over the span of weeks I can count on two hands, I have seen how crucial it is to be a voice, among others, this world so desperately needs. Thank you Kevin Ann Huckshorn for your deep inspiration and the motivation to “do the right thing”.

Throughout my healthcare career, I’ve witnessed firsthand the importance of patient advocacy. It is one of the first lessons we learn in nursing school and a recurring topic as you advance onto becoming a provider. But it was a different perspective altogether when I found myself on the other side of the hospital bed, as a family member watching over my own loved ones. Over the past two decades, I’ve navigated the healthcare system alongside my father, a heart transplant recipient of 23 years, experiencing the profound difference between being the provider delivering care and being the family member entrusting others with the care of a family member. I wish I can say it has gotten easier, but it only seems to get harder as the years go by. As healthcare professionals, we understand the complexities of the medical world – the terminologies, procedures, and treatment options. Yet, when it’s our loved ones lying in that hospital bed, all the knowledge and experience doesn’t shield us from the vulnerability and anxiety that come with the territory. Afterall, ignorance is bliss. Advocating for our loved ones isn’t just about understanding medical jargon or having a background in healthcare – it’s about being their voice, their guardian, and their unwavering support system. It’s about asking questions, seeking clarity, and ensuring they receive the best possible care, every step of the way. This journey has taught me invaluable lessons about empathy, communication, and the power of advocacy in healthcare. It has reinforced my belief in the importance of bridging the gap between healthcare providers and patients’ families – fostering collaboration, trust, and transparency. Good bedside manner by our clinicians goes a long way. Beyond the medical treatments and procedures, it’s the compassionate care, the reassuring words, and the comforting presence of healthcare professionals that make a world of difference to patients and their families. What may only be 5 minutes to you translates to a lifetime for the patient and their family members. Good bedside manner not only enhances the patient experience but also strengthens the bond of trust between providers and families, paving the way for more effective communication and shared decision-making. Have a seat, put your stethoscope on the counter, put the pen down, make eye contact, and listen to what is being said.

🛑 DEADLINE! 🛑 2025 Advocacy Institute Fellowship Applications - 11:59pm PST ⏱ Join our 4th class of #nurseadvocates tackling nursing's toughest systemic issues. Applications: https://lnkd.in/gbzHQGhK Fellowship Deliverables by Campaign: -Racism in Nursing Fellowship Deliverables   1. Engage in conversations with executive nurse leaders regarding anti-racist strategies, policies, and best practices. 2. Connect with subject matter experts to curate a repository of anti-racist action plans. LGBTQIA+ Equity in Nursing Fellowship Deliverables 1. Coordinate a pilot with nursing and healthcare leaders in California and New York. 2. Assist in data analysis and recommendation formation with LGBTQIA+ equity experts. Nurses in Media Fellowship Deliverables 1. Connect with nursing leadership and communication departments to advocate for proposed recommendations. 2. Engage in conversations with media & PR experts regarding barriers to nurses in media. Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Fellowship Deliverables 1. Engage in conversations with executive nurse leadership and AI experts to discuss AI’s impact on nursing workflows. 2. Develop an advisory team of nursing and AI leaders. Veteran's Health Fellowship Deliverables 1. Coordinate an intake process assessment with nursing and informaticist leaders in California. 2. Assist in data analysis and help make recommendations with veteran health experts. ***Criteria, Requirements, and more**** https://lnkd.in/giy5pTQU

CALL FOR APPLICANTS: Join our #MedicalJustice in #Advocacy 2024-2025 Cohort and develop your #healthequity knowledge to take action in responding to inequities in the patient communities you serve! @AmerMedicalAssn @MorehouseSchoolofMedicine Apply Now at https://bit.ly/3vy0k1p The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) at Morehouse School of Medicine announced that applications are open for our next cohort to empower physician-led advocacy that advances equity and removes barriers to optimal health for marginalized people and communities.     Under the mentorship of renowned multidisciplinary health equity experts, the new Medical Justice in Advocacy post-doctoral fellowship program will train 10 physicians desiring greater knowledge and skills in confronting the root causes of inequity in communities across the country.  The fellowship will mobilize physicians to be part of the next generation of advocacy leaders, driving meaningful policy and structural changes that produce equity and justice in the communities they serve. Together, the fellows will generate and exchange solutions and implement health equity projects that inform policy to ensure better health outcomes and close health gaps for patients. Using an anti-racist, equity-centered learning framework, the fellowship will provide a mentoring and training platform that will equip participants with the foundational skills, tools, and knowledge to engage in institutional and political health advocacy. This will involve exploring several critical topic areas, including:    - Upstream (action-based) models of advocacy that address social and structural drivers of health  - Structural, cultural, political, and historical analysis of the production of inequities  - Sector and resource engagement required to improve community health and wellbeing   

UPDATE on Professional Patient Advocates in Life Sciences (PPALS) 2024 Patient Advocacy Certificate Training (PACT) course! Have you reserved your spot to attend the PPALS' PACT course? In 6 weeks, we gather in Sioux Falls, SD at the Sanford Research campus on May 13th-16th, 2024. PACT is designed as an educational forum with two Tracks, with each Track separated into two Levels: Industry Track Introductory Level (40 seats) Industry Track Intermediate Level (40 seats) Patient Advocacy Organization (PAO) Track Introductory Level (20 seats) Patient Advocacy Organization (PAO) Track Intermediate Level (20 seats) PACT is a unique educational course which PPALS considers to be an investment in oneself, the patient advocacy function and/or patient advocacy organization. The Industry Track is designed for individuals working in the fabulous patient advocacy function or wish to learn more about it. The PAO Track is geared for senior staff and board members of patient advocacy organizations. Feel free to get in touch if you want to learn more or have some questions. Just send an email to jean@ppals.org and tim@ppals.org It is an extraordinary gathering where learning, sharing, networking and collaborations happen in a welcoming and enjoyable environment. While there are still some seats available in each section, they are going fast! Seems that the word on the street is that Sioux Falls is the place to be to have this extraordinary experience! 😎 Please feel free to share with anyone who may be thinking about learning more about the patient advocacy function or wanting to strengthen its organizational infrastructure. For more information about registration, logistics and other questions on the 2024 PACT course visit https://lnkd.in/eEQY6cvz Professional Patient Advocates in Life Sciences (PPALS) #patientadvocacy #patientadvocacyinlifesciences #rarediseases #rarediseasenonprofits #nonprofiteducation To register for the PACT course sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eByrXJdF

https://lnkd.in/euUriwcy. I chair a forum of #MedicalDirectors. At the most recent forum, I asked medical directors from 16 units if #advocacy on #Healthcare #policy should be the stated expectation of a medical director. The temperature in the room? Advocacy is a laudable but medical directors need to focus on #clinical operations. Too often, medical directors are under-resourced and are asked to focus on daily operations. #advocacy and #strategicplanning propel patient health and enterprise growth. Our governing bodies promote this view: "The American Medical Association (#AMA) has endorsed a similar policy to “advocate for the #social, #economic, #educational and #political changes that ameliorate #suffering and contribute to human well-being” in its Declaration of Professional Responsibility: Medicine’s Social Contract with Humanity” (http://www.ama-assn.org)."

In the diverse and complex landscape of healthcare, the importance of patient advocacy cannot be overstated. Advocacy roles are an embodiment of the healthcare team's unyielding commitment to patient-centric care, designed to ensure that every patient's voice is heard, their rights are respected, and their needs met. 🏥💪 Patient advocacy traverses an array of healthcare professionals' roles - from nurses advocating for a patient's comfort, to doctors advocating for treatments to be made accessible or pharmacy teams championing for affordable medications. Each role in this cornucopia of caretakers plays a crucial part, embodying the ethos of advocacy through their daily duties. The individualized nature of patient care revolves around the heart of advocacy. It's the nursing professionals who manage direct patient care, ensuring maximum comfort and recognizing unhindered communication as a necessity. They often serve as the link between patients and the rest of the treatment team, paving the way for better-informed medical decisions. 🩺🔗 Physicians, on the other hand, endorse advocacy through evidence-backed decisions. Their expertise allows them to recommend the best course of action, thereby resonating with the essence of advocacy by prioritizing the patient's wellbeing and upholding their autonomy. Pharmacists also play a significant role by providing educational resources and advising on the best, most affordable treatment options, thus reinforcing patient autonomy and promoting health literacy. 💊🌐 In essence, patient advocacy encapsulates the spirit of empathy, responsibility, and respect for autonomy that lies at the heart of the healthcare practice. It's a commitment that echoes across all medical roles, signifying the undeterred belief in making healthcare more accessible, inclusive, and patient-centric. #PatientAdvocacy #Healthcare #PatientCentricCare #Empathy #Responsibility #Respect #HealthcareProfessionals

Fueling Advocacy through clinical research! I’ve worked across public health sectors: Nutrition and Disease Education Trauma Informed care Violence Prevention Health and Environmental Inspection **Clinical Research **Patient Advocacy Love them all!! Clinical Research and Advoccay shaped and molded me! I’m an Expert and I want to speak with you and help you navigate this space! Working in clinical research have prepared me for patient advocacy in several ways. First and foremost, my experience in the field has given me a deep understanding of the healthcare system, medical treatments, and patient needs. This knowledge enables me to effectively communicate with medical professionals, researchers, and policymakers on behalf of patients. Additionally, my background in clinical research has honed my critical thinking and analytical skills. These abilities are crucial in evaluating medical information and research findings, allowing me to advocate for evidence-based treatments and policies that best serve patients' interests. Moreover, my exposure to various medical conditions and patient experiences during clinical research has fostered empathy and compassion. Understanding the challenges patients face empowers me to be a more effective and empathetic advocate, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns addressed. I am informed, passionate and I lead with empathy and facts! I am equipped with the expertise to navigate all sectors of public health. Let’s chat! #publichealthmatters #clinicaltrials #healthandwellness #advocacymatters #nutritioneducation #diseaseprevention #leadershipskills

In today’s video with Liam Paschall, our conversation delves into the significance of peer-based education, the challenges faced by healthcare organizations, and actionable steps to become a more culturally competent provider, researcher or organization. Liam addresses the value of peer-to-peer training for healthcare providers to ensure affirming and inclusive care to LGBTQIA+ individuals. However, not all clinics, sites, or hospitals have the infrastructure or staff available to develop and implement training. Liam addresses resources that already exist so anyone or any organization can start improving now with currently available tools and talent.   Fenway Health's National LGBTQIA+ Education Center offers valuable continuing medical education (CME) and additional resources for healthcare professionals: https://lnkd.in/giTMP238    Liam also emphasizes the importance of health systems embracing these offerings as a baseline, urging providers to not only undergo training but also to engage with the LGBTQIA+ community to translate knowledge into practice. Patient centricity and patient-focused drug development start with inviting the people living with the conditions being treated or studied to share their experiences and insights. Trainers like Liam and organizations like Fenway can provide guidance and support for this engagement.   Liam and others in the LGBTQIA+ community are available to inform and guide healthcare providers, hospitals, patient advocacy groups, government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry to apply real solutions to challenges they face in ensuring inclusivity and equity in the healthcare and research spaces. We encourage you to connect with Liam and find out how your organization can make DEI principles actionable.   #HealthEquity #LGBTQIAHealth #TransgenderHealth #ContinuingEducation #SocialSaturday Image description: At the top left is Devra, a white woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a teal shirt and glasses. To her right is Liam, a white man with short light-colored hair wearing a blue-and-white plaid shirt and dark glasses. Underneath Devra and Liam is Angela, a Black woman with dark brown skin, and black chin length straight hair. She is wearing a long sleeve animal print shirt, black eyeglasses with a tortoise rim, and rose-colored lipstick.

One of the biggest challenges I hear from clients is that they don't know where to start when it comes to cultural competency. First, it starts with operationalizing trainings, CME, and standards for care. Without accountability, little will change and the same issues of exclusion and neglect will persist. Second, there are amazing open-access resources available via organizations like Fenway Health. Lean into creating partnerships with leaders and organizations who have paved the way to inclusive and culturally competent and responsive care.