There are probably as many forms of patient advocacy as there are patients who need advocates.
When you are choosing the type of patient advocate who can best help you, or if you are interested in a career as a patient advocate, here are some categories of advocacy from which to choose. Follow the links with each description to find more information about each:
Patient Advocates / Navigators
...provide general assistance to patients and caregivers as they navigate their way through the healthcare system, with tasks such as accompaniment to doctors' appointments, hospital bedside monitoring, medication reviews and coordination, diagnosis or treatment option research and more.
Hospital Patient Advocates or Representatives
...are employed by hospitals and may assist patients or their families or caregivers during or after a hospital stay.
Health Coaching
... Health Coaches help their clients improve their lifestyle choices in order to stay healthy, or improve their health. They use education and motivation to focus on an individual's wellness.
Medical Bills and Claim Reviewers
... help people who have medical bills sort through them, determine whether the billing has been done correctly, and sometimes even negotiate with hospitals, doctors offices or others who have billed them too much.
There are additional categories of patients advocates. I will add descriptions and links over time.
