Healthcare advocacy plays a crucial role in the proper medical care of a patient. The healthcare system is incredibly complex and difficult for many to navigate. Healthcare advocates can help support patients and their families through the system in order to get the best treatment possible. These advocates have developed highly specialized skills that help patients be able to make the best decisions possible. Here are the four top skills that healthcare advocates use to assist their patients.
Advocates can help patients understand their medical diagnoses and treatment options. They listen to patients and bring up any issues with physicians and treatment providers in order to come up with the best elder care solutions. This can be especially helpful for patients with multiple chronic conditions who have to see many different medical providers. They can also help address any grievances or complaints a patient may have regarding their medical care and make sure appropriate actions are taken.
Advocates help patients understand their medical rights and empower them with information that helps them make the best choices and keep them safe. Patients can better understand medical procedures, discharge instructions, insurance coverage, and medical costs using healthcare advocacy. Sometimes these things can be overwhelming, especially when a patient is given a terminal diagnosis. The advocate can help make things a bit easier so the patient can concentrate more on recovery.
Medical Terminology Knowledge
A patient care advocate must be highly knowledgeable with medical terminology to correctly document issues a patient has with his or her care. The advocate must also be able to use this knowledge to communicate effectively with the doctor. This also requires translating to the patient anything he or she doesn’t understand.
Medical Costs Navigation
In the United States, over 23 million seniors are economically insecure. Patient care advocacy can help reduce the financial stress they face from rising medical costs. Advocates can help them understand insurance options, reimbursement, and bill management. They can also help them find assistance programs to eliminate or reduce the costs of prescriptions and necessary medical equipment or devices.
Healthcare advocacy requires many different skills in order to ensure patients receive the best medical care available. Having an advocate can help a patient navigate many gray areas involved in the healthcare system. This can also help them better focus on their health and recovery by eliminating many of the concerns and problems they face.