Caring for Other Patients
Caregivers and advocates play a helpful and unique role in helping others through difficult medical challenges. There are a number of legal, organizational and personal aspects to caring for others that require special attention. Whether your interest is in helping a loved one, or if you are considering patient advocacy as a career, you'll find resources here.
An Overview of Patient Advocacy
Knowing the forms of patient advocacy can help someone who wishes to assist a patient understand better what her role will be.
Knowing the forms of patient advocacy can help someone who wishes to assist a patient understand better what her role will be.
So You Want to be a Patients Advocate?
There are many types of patient advocates and many routes to becoming a patients advocate. The education, skills and experience needed vary according to the type of patients advocate one wants to be.
There are many types of patient advocates and many routes to becoming a patients advocate. The education, skills and experience needed vary according to the type of patients advocate one wants to be.
How to Start a Patient Advocate Business
If you are an entrepreneur, enjoy patient advocacy work, and wish to start a business caring for others, starting a patient advocates business may be a good choice. Here are the steps to starting a successful patient advocate's business.
If you are an entrepreneur, enjoy patient advocacy work, and wish to start a business caring for others, starting a patient advocates business may be a good choice. Here are the steps to starting a successful patient advocate's business.
How to Interview and Choose a Patient Advocate
A patient advocate who has the experience and skills you need to assist you will be difficult. You'll want to be sure to screen candidates well to be sure they have the credentials and abilities they claim to have, and the ability to help you. Ask the following questions to help you choose the person who will advocate on your behalf.
A patient advocate who has the experience and skills you need to assist you will be difficult. You'll want to be sure to screen candidates well to be sure they have the credentials and abilities they claim to have, and the ability to help you. Ask the following questions to help you choose the person who will advocate on your behalf.
What Services Do Patient Advocates Offer?
Patients need many kinds of assistance from medical help, to cost and billing review, to transportation, legal or hospital assistance. Each service requires a different type of approach and background.
Patients need many kinds of assistance from medical help, to cost and billing review, to transportation, legal or hospital assistance. Each service requires a different type of approach and background.
Become a Patient Advocate: Degrees and Certificates
There are a handful of degree and certificate programs available for patient's advocates. They are listed here and updated as more information becomes available.
There are a handful of degree and certificate programs available for patient's advocates. They are listed here and updated as more information becomes available.
How to Visit Someone in the Hospital
Hospital visits can be dangerous for patients, and one safety hazard is the patient's visitors. Keep in mind these do's and don'ts for visiting your friend or loved one in the hospital to be sure he or she stays safe.
Hospital visits can be dangerous for patients, and one safety hazard is the patient's visitors. Keep in mind these do's and don'ts for visiting your friend or loved one in the hospital to be sure he or she stays safe.
Privacy and Security of Medical Records: HIPAA Laws and Advocacy
The privacy of medical records, based on federal and state laws, can create hurdles for patients' advocates. Understanding what those hurdles are, and where to get more information about overcoming them, can help you work on someone else's behalf.
The privacy of medical records, based on federal and state laws, can create hurdles for patients' advocates. Understanding what those hurdles are, and where to get more information about overcoming them, can help you work on someone else's behalf.
Advance Directives - Legal Documents for Caregivers
Caregivers will want to be sure to have documentation in place for the end-of-life wishes of the patient they care for. Here's an explanation of what those documents will be, and links to the legal requirements of all 50 states.
Caregivers will want to be sure to have documentation in place for the end-of-life wishes of the patient they care for. Here's an explanation of what those documents will be, and links to the legal requirements of all 50 states.
Respecting Your Loved One's Wishes
As an advocate for another person, you are expected to fulfill their wishes for end of life care. The documents which outline those wishes are called "advanced directives." They include healthcare proxies, living wills, and DNRs (do not resuscitate orders), and are governed by the laws of the state in which the patient resides.
As an advocate for another person, you are expected to fulfill their wishes for end of life care. The documents which outline those wishes are called "advanced directives." They include healthcare proxies, living wills, and DNRs (do not resuscitate orders), and are governed by the laws of the state in which the patient resides.