Alia Burks
Chronic Illness, Complex Needs, & Cancer Support
CCC (Cancer Care Concierge/Chronic Care Concierge)
Alia Burks
Chronic Illness, Complex Needs, & Cancer Support
CCC (Cancer Care Concierge/Chronic Care Concierge)
Advocate Location
Tiffin , IA 52340
Specialty
Medical Guidance
Other Services
Survivor Support
TeleAdvocacy Available
Offers FREE Initial Consultation
*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
I support patients and their families navigating chronic illnesses, such as gastroparesis, connective tissue disease(s), and dysautonomia, among other conditions. I also support patients and families who are navigating cancer.
We'll start by identifying what you're looking for from patient advocacy. Then, we'll work together to establish your priorities and develop a plan that makes sense for you. Next, we'll review your medical history and diagnoses, break down complex medical terminology into plain language, identify potential barriers to care, and help you articulate your personal goals and priorities to your healthcare team. We'll take things one step at a time, at a pace that works for you.
You deserve to understand your care, have a voice in the decisions that affect you, and work with a healthcare team that listens to and respects your needs. My role is to help make that possible by providing the support, organization, research, and guidance you need along the way.
How I can support you:
Healthcare navigation and care coordination
- Identifying barriers to accessing care
- Coordinating communication between members of your healthcare team
- Helping you prepare for appointments, procedures, and follow-ups
- Scheduling appointments, procedures, diagnostic testing, and laboratory work
- Attending medical appointments virtually, when permitted
- Taking notes during appointments so you can focus on the conversation
- Helping organize follow-ups, outstanding questions, and next steps
Medical records and organization
- Organizing medical records, paperwork, and documentation
- Creating an organized physical or electronic medical file
- Helping establish and navigate patient portal accounts
- Translating medical records, physicians' notes, and complex medical terminology into plain language
- Helping you keep track of diagnoses, medical history, appointments, and important healthcare information
Research and resource navigation
- Researching specialists and potential second-opinion providers based on your needs
- Identifying financial assistance programs, grants, and other available resources
- Researching federal, state, and community assistance programs
- Identifying housing, transportation, and other practical support resources
- Helping explore hospice and palliative care resources when appropriate
- Helping you identify which services, treatments, medications, and procedures are covered by your health insurance and which may not be covered
Personalized support and planning
- Helping you organize questions and concerns before speaking with your healthcare team
- Helping communicate your needs and priorities to family members and caregivers
- Developing a medical emergency action plan in coordination with your healthcare team
- Organizing prescription refill requests and medication reminders
- Helping you keep track of important healthcare deadlines and follow-up needs
Every person's situation is different, and these services are not a one-size-fits-all checklist. We'll focus on the areas where you need the most support and adjust as your circumstances change.
You have enough to navigate while managing your health. Let me help make the rest a little easier, so you can spend more time focusing on living your life.
We'll start by identifying what you're looking for from patient advocacy. Then, we'll work together to establish your priorities and develop a plan that makes sense for you. Next, we'll review your medical history and diagnoses, break down complex medical terminology into plain language, identify potential barriers to care, and help you articulate your personal goals and priorities to your healthcare team. We'll take things one step at a time, at a pace that works for you.
You deserve to understand your care, have a voice in the decisions that affect you, and work with a healthcare team that listens to and respects your needs. My role is to help make that possible by providing the support, organization, research, and guidance you need along the way.
How I can support you:
Healthcare navigation and care coordination
- Identifying barriers to accessing care
- Coordinating communication between members of your healthcare team
- Helping you prepare for appointments, procedures, and follow-ups
- Scheduling appointments, procedures, diagnostic testing, and laboratory work
- Attending medical appointments virtually, when permitted
- Taking notes during appointments so you can focus on the conversation
- Helping organize follow-ups, outstanding questions, and next steps
Medical records and organization
- Organizing medical records, paperwork, and documentation
- Creating an organized physical or electronic medical file
- Helping establish and navigate patient portal accounts
- Translating medical records, physicians' notes, and complex medical terminology into plain language
- Helping you keep track of diagnoses, medical history, appointments, and important healthcare information
Research and resource navigation
- Researching specialists and potential second-opinion providers based on your needs
- Identifying financial assistance programs, grants, and other available resources
- Researching federal, state, and community assistance programs
- Identifying housing, transportation, and other practical support resources
- Helping explore hospice and palliative care resources when appropriate
- Helping you identify which services, treatments, medications, and procedures are covered by your health insurance and which may not be covered
Personalized support and planning
- Helping you organize questions and concerns before speaking with your healthcare team
- Helping communicate your needs and priorities to family members and caregivers
- Developing a medical emergency action plan in coordination with your healthcare team
- Organizing prescription refill requests and medication reminders
- Helping you keep track of important healthcare deadlines and follow-up needs
Every person's situation is different, and these services are not a one-size-fits-all checklist. We'll focus on the areas where you need the most support and adjust as your circumstances change.
You have enough to navigate while managing your health. Let me help make the rest a little easier, so you can spend more time focusing on living your life.
Important Information About Me
- I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
- I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
- My geographical area of practice is In person: Iowa City, The Quad Cities, and the Chicagoland Area & TeleAdvocacy: Nationwide
My Survivor Support Advocacy Qualifications
I am a survivor of Epilepsy, Gastroparesis, Sepsis, Lupus, Intracranial Hypertension, Autoimmune Disease, Dysmotility, and Dysautonomia
My passion for patient advocacy began as a Patient Care Technician, where I worked on the COVID Unit, advocating for patients by creating a COVID Crisis Taskforce to ensure precautions were in place to protect patients and staff during a challenging time. I then transitioned to Supportive Oncology Research Data Coordination for multiple cancer types, where I focused on forming connections with patients through research, learning their stories, and helping them better communicate concerns to their care teams.
Then, suddenly I became the patient and had to learn how to navigate those same systems my patients were navigating every day.
Now, I understand what goes on behind the scenes while also knowing how it feels to be uncertain and confused about a diagnosis or care plan.
Then, suddenly I became the patient and had to learn how to navigate those same systems my patients were navigating every day.
Now, I understand what goes on behind the scenes while also knowing how it feels to be uncertain and confused about a diagnosis or care plan.
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
My commitment to patient advocacy is personal. I experienced loss from an early age and watched my family’s concerns go unanswered. Those experiences shaped my belief that no one should feel ignored, dismissed, or alone while navigating illness. Patients and their families deserve to be taken seriously, have their questions answered, and receive support that recognizes them as a whole people, not just diagnoses.
I spent several years working as a Patient Care Technician, caring for individuals with a wide range of illnesses and supporting them through the ups and downs of hospital stays. I still have cards from patients and their families that I cherish to this day. They remind me of the importance of the relationships we build and the impact being present for someone can have.
I then spent five years as an Oncology Research Data Coordinator, maintaining relationships with patients and following their journeys year after year. I listened to their stories, learned their medical histories, helped them communicate their needs to their care teams, and translated complex medical terminology into information they and their families could understand.
My work extended beyond direct patient interactions. Behind the scenes, I helped ensure patient samples were processed in a timely manner so physicians had the information they needed to make treatment decisions. I identified and addressed discrepancies in patient records, held clinical teams accountable when I recognized errors, and advocated for patients when their concerns were overlooked or their questions went unanswered.
Now, as someone living with rare and complex medical conditions, I have experienced firsthand many of the challenges my patients face when navigating multiple healthcare systems.
I understand the vulnerability of being a patient, the frustration of unanswered questions, and how overwhelming it can be to coordinate care while managing illness. My personal experiences have given me a deeper understanding of the very challenges I spent years helping others navigate professionally.
I bring these experiences together to help you understand not only what is happening during your care, but also what is happening behind the scenes. I want to help you navigate complex systems, understand your options, communicate with your healthcare team, and ensure you have an active voice in decisions about your care.
That is why supporting individuals experiencing illness, navigating new diagnoses, and finding their way through complex healthcare systems is so important to me. You deserve to be heard, informed, respected, and involved in your care. Patient advocacy helps bridge the gap between patients and the healthcare system, empowering individuals and families to navigate that journey with greater understanding, confidence, and support.
Being a patient should never mean losing your voice.
I spent several years working as a Patient Care Technician, caring for individuals with a wide range of illnesses and supporting them through the ups and downs of hospital stays. I still have cards from patients and their families that I cherish to this day. They remind me of the importance of the relationships we build and the impact being present for someone can have.
I then spent five years as an Oncology Research Data Coordinator, maintaining relationships with patients and following their journeys year after year. I listened to their stories, learned their medical histories, helped them communicate their needs to their care teams, and translated complex medical terminology into information they and their families could understand.
My work extended beyond direct patient interactions. Behind the scenes, I helped ensure patient samples were processed in a timely manner so physicians had the information they needed to make treatment decisions. I identified and addressed discrepancies in patient records, held clinical teams accountable when I recognized errors, and advocated for patients when their concerns were overlooked or their questions went unanswered.
Now, as someone living with rare and complex medical conditions, I have experienced firsthand many of the challenges my patients face when navigating multiple healthcare systems.
I understand the vulnerability of being a patient, the frustration of unanswered questions, and how overwhelming it can be to coordinate care while managing illness. My personal experiences have given me a deeper understanding of the very challenges I spent years helping others navigate professionally.
I bring these experiences together to help you understand not only what is happening during your care, but also what is happening behind the scenes. I want to help you navigate complex systems, understand your options, communicate with your healthcare team, and ensure you have an active voice in decisions about your care.
That is why supporting individuals experiencing illness, navigating new diagnoses, and finding their way through complex healthcare systems is so important to me. You deserve to be heard, informed, respected, and involved in your care. Patient advocacy helps bridge the gap between patients and the healthcare system, empowering individuals and families to navigate that journey with greater understanding, confidence, and support.
Being a patient should never mean losing your voice.
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