Advocacy Services
MEDICAL advocacy
- Advocate for appropriate care
- Interact with healthcare professionals
- Prepare questions and an agenda prior to appointments
- Attend appointments
- Summarize appointments and translate medical info
- Identify resources
- Educate re: diagnosis and treatment options
- Research providers and facilities
- Facilitate communication with providers and family members
- Obtain medical records from different providers
- Summarize your medical records to facilitate consultations and medical communication
- Compile a detailed medication list
NAVIGATION through the health care system
- Appointment scheduling
- Coordinate care between physicians
- Managing all the different pieces and players of your health care team
BEDSIDE ADVOCACY
- Be with the patient in the ER, hospital, or other facility to anticipate and advocate for their needs
- Provide extra eyes to maintain patient safety (medication errors are the most common)
- Facilitate communication among the client, clinicians, and family
TRANSITIONS OF CARE
- Assist with hospital admissions, stays, transfer to another facility, or discharge home
- Anticipate transitions so they’re not a stressful surprise
- Anticipate what equipment, services, and care will facilitate a successful discharge
- Advise on what to look for in a facility
- Research potential facilities
ADMINISTRATIVE
- Obtain or transfer medical records
- Scheduling
- Arrange transportation
BILLING & INSURANCE
- Review billing to ensure accuracy
- Confirm coverage for services
- Help you understand your Explanation of Benefits and patient costs
- Research in-network providers, for example if you need to see a new type of specialist
- Clarify out-of-network expenses
PLANNING FOR END OF LIFE
Help clients understand:
- Their code status
- Advanced directives
- Hospice and Palliative Care services
SERVICES **not** PROVIDEd
We lack the experience and expertise to advise people in the following service areas: mental health-only needs; pediatrics; L+I claims; the VA system.
Advocates serve in an information and facilitation role in health care. We do not make decisions for clients but rather empower them to feel confident in voicing their care goals and choices. We do not provide any clinical services, despite our professional license. We are also barred from providing patient transportation, though we can certainly accompany a client in a taxi or uber.
