Patient advocates
can be friends or family members, or hired professionals. Among hired
professionals, you will find some advocates with medical backgrounds, some
without; some with specific oncology experience and some with experience in
other fields of medicine; also, some will work for the medical institution
providing your care, and others work independently, representing only you.
Why do you or your loved one need a patient
advocate?
Cancer
care/ chronic illness is complicated diagnoses. Combine this illness with a
complicated and fragmented medical/healthcare system and situations can get out
of hand. You need the ability to think clearly to ensure that you are making
the right decisions for you or your loved one. You might find yourself unable
to attend doctor’s appointments or be at the hospital just at the right time
that the physician enters the room. These are the times when it is helpful to
have an objective person to be present.
What does a patient advocate do?
They make
sure the patient is being treated well. They act as a sounding board for you to
discuss your healthcare issues. They prioritize and focus on what is important
for the patient and caregiver. They attend doctor appointments (or whenever there
is a conversation regarding your healthcare). They disseminate the information
and put the conversation in non-medical terms. They pay attention to the
details. They try to ensure that medical errors are not made and facilitate further
understanding of the information communicated to the patient and caregivers to prevent
confusion.
Who can be a
patient advocate?
A hired
advocate is one who has chosen to make a career and commitment to helping
patients have a voice and improve the quality of care they receive; choosing a
hired advocate involves developing a trusting relationship. A non-hired advocate
is a loved one, family member, or friend/neighbor whom you trust and has your
best interests in mind
How to choose a patient advocate:
Decide which areas
of help you are looking, for example, is it insurance, treatment questions, case
management/organization of treatments, specific understanding of information
about your cancer/illness, or an emotional sounding board.
Check your advocate's experience,
qualifications, and references:
Advocates
with medical experience should be qualified registered nurses. Ask for detailed
information about an advocate’s experience. Ask for client references and
medical professional references. Is your potential to advocate someone you feel is
trustworthy? Do you feel comfortable sharing your private medical information
with this person? Is your potential advocate compassionate, and above all, a
good listener.
Why a
cancer (oncology) nurse advocate?
Cancer
nurses are knowledgeable about the delivery of health care services involving
cancer issues. They understand the complexity of patient care and the
importance of taking care of the whole patient. They have the experience and
the ability to anticipate issues related to cancer treatment.
Additionally,
your personal cancer nurse advocate can help you:
They navigate the complexities of cancer care
within the healthcare maze. They help you to understand your insurance benefits and explore
testing and/or treatment options. They can compare your planned treatment to
evidence-based clinical guidelines such as those of NCCN. They develop a list of questions to discuss
with your medical team; research clinical treatment and clinical trial
options if requested; and guide you through changes in medical direction
and/or treatment.
Differences
between an oncology nurse navigator and a private oncology nurse advocate:
An oncology nurse navigator typically works
within and for a medical center. They act as a liaison between you and your
doctors at their facility. They educate, advocate, coordinates care and assists
navigation of the healthcare system. They are there to improve your cancer care
experience.
A private oncology
nurse advocate has the same level of experience and qualifications, but s/he
works for you, and is not beholden to an institution.
Beacon Oncology Nurse Advocates is a private
oncology service located in St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area Florida. They also help
patients/ caregivers located elsewhere in the state.
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