Understanding Patient Advocacy

What is Patient Advocacy?

First, you might be wondering, “What is a patient advocate?” A patient advocate is a person that helps their clients navigate the healthcare system. Patient advocates educate patients about their rights and represent the patients’ interests. They promote patient autonomy and empowerment while helping patients understand their healthcare options. Patient advocates help to match healthcare services to their patients’ needs, resulting in greater healthcare access for the patients.

Role of Patient Advocates

Patient advocates do a lot. Their tasks depend on what their client needs. They may help patients communicate with doctors and other healthcare professionals to ensure they have all the information needed to make healthcare decisions. At other times, patient advocates may help schedule medical visits or tests. They may assist in filling out medical forms or paperwork. Sometimes, patient advocates might help research available healthcare services like transportation or home health aides. In general, patient advocates seek out information that will assist the patient in making their own healthcare decisions. 

Skills of Patient Advocates

Patient advocates don’t need specialized medical training to be effective. However, they should have a thorough knowledge of how their local healthcare system works. This includes how to access healthcare, insurance options, and all resources available. Advocates need to be able to navigate bureaucracy to prioritize the needs of their clients. Patient advocates should be able to read and sort diverse information and translate that information into easy-to-understand terms. Effective patient advocates should be empathetic, compassionate, committed, and have excellent communication and problem-solving skills. It’s crucial that patient advocates are good, attentive listeners who ask follow-up questions to understand their clients’ needs.

Key Traits of a Patient Advocate:

• Inquisitive learner: Actively engages in workshops to grasp patient advocacy and healthcare navigation.

• Compassionate and empathetic: An advocate for vulnerable individuals due to her social work background.

• Community-oriented: Plans to become a peer advocate, focusing on low-income families.

• Detail-oriented: Ensures a deep understanding of healthcare rights and advocacy techniques.

• Effective communicator: Refines communication skills through program training.

• Continuous learner: Stays updated on healthcare regulations and resources.

• Patient-centered: Prioritizes patients’ voices and wishes.

• Dedicated: Volunteers to organize local workshops and events.

Principles of Advocacy

Patient advocates follow the basic principles of advocacy. They should always act in the client’s best interest, in accordance with their wishes and instructions. This means that the patient advocate needs to keep the client informed and act impartial when offering honest, independent healthcare options. Patient advocates should carry out the instructions of their clients with diligence and competence. It’s important that patient advocates maintain client confidentiality and don’t share personal health information with people outside of their client’s healthcare team.

The Advocacy Relationship

Patient advocates are an integral part of a healthcare team. They serve as a voice for the patient. Advocates should be an active partner and ask lots of questions to understand the patient’s needs and desired outcomes. Advocates should work with their patients and clients to identify where support is needed to navigate and access the healthcare system. It’s important that patient advocates build trust and strong relationships with their clients. This can be done by focusing on good, open communication and setting clear expectations and timeframes for updates, meetings, and care. Above all else, a patient advocate should respect the voice and wishes of their client.

Patient Advocacy at HHP

At HHP, we focus on peer led patient advocacy in our free workshop programs. Peer led advocacy is when individuals with shared life experiences advocate for one another. These life experiences may include similar backgrounds, demographics, diagnoses, or health issues.

The program improves health literacy and prepares participants to act as patient advocates for themselves, their loved ones, or for peers.

Upon completion of the patient advocacy workshop, participants receive comprehensive follow-up support from HHP. This support includes: 

• Dedicated support communication channels

• Follow-up newsletters containing workshop materials and answers to questions

• Monthly newsletters to keep participants informed
• “Train the Trainer” workshops where selected individuals are trained to give the workshops to their own local communities

In Short

Patient Advocacy involves communication with both patient and healthcare professionals. With research, you can inform the person of all their treatment options, while making sure they fully understand the risks and benefits. The Advocate must also communicate  the wishes of the patient to their doctors, and ensure the healthcare team proceeds as instructed. Patient Advocacy can be incredibly fulfilling work, carrying out an important role in a person’s medical treatment. If you have the time and skills, consider taking on this vital, guiding work in someone’s life.