What Are the Duties of a Patient Advocate?

What Are the Duties of a Patient Advocate?

Patients often become overwhelmed with the healthcare system, and a patient advocate can help them get a better understanding of their options. They can also help patients and their families understand their rights.

A patient advocate is a nurse, social worker or other health care professional who helps patients and their families navigate the healthcare system and alleviate some of the stress associated with dealing with illness or injury. They also assist patients with insurance and other financial issues related to healthcare.

How Do I Become a Patient Advocate?

To be a patient advocate, you need to have strong interpersonal skills and problem-solving abilities. You will need to work with patients, doctors, nurses, office managers, and insurance companies to help them understand their options and make decisions about their healthcare.

Patient advocates typically work full-time, but they may spend time away from their offices if they accompany patients to appointments and interviews or if they take part in telehealth calls with clients explaining and solving problems remotely. They can also work as independent contractors in private practice and at nonprofits and community agencies.

Getting the Best Patient Care

It is very important for patients to have an advocate that they can trust and feel comfortable with in their healthcare setting. This person can help patients understand their treatment options, explain the benefits of certain therapies, and ensure that they are receiving quality care from their physicians.

You can become a patient advocate by completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing, social work, geriatric care management, or another health-related field and receiving on-the-job training in the role of patient advocacy. You can also earn a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing or a related field.

How Much Does It Cost to Be a Patient Advocate?

You will be responsible for helping patients with a variety of medical needs, from providing transportation to their doctor’s office and handling health insurance issues. You will also educate clients about their rights, such as the right to refuse treatment if it isn’t in their best interest or the right to check out of the hospital before treatment is complete.

The duties of a patient advocate can vary by organization. In some organizations, patient advocates work with a single client at a time, while others are assigned to multiple cases. In both situations, you will need to be organized and pay close attention to details so that you can catch errors in medical bills or insurance claims.

Emotional Intelligence

Patient advocacy involves assisting people with complex, emotional issues. These clients might be facing chronic illness or a life-threatening disease. They might be coping with pain or anxiety, or they might be battling family crisis and other issues that are making it difficult for them to cope.

Compassion and Empathy

A patient advocate must be able to put themselves in their clients’ shoes and show empathy, compassion, and understanding. They also need to be able to pick up on body language and other nonverbal cues when working with patients.