CarolAnne Dube

MSc, BCPA
Patient Advocates of Southwest Florida, LLC
CarolAnne

CarolAnne Dube

MSc, BCPA
Patient Advocates of Southwest Florida, LLC
Advocate Location
Punta Gorda , FL 33983
Specialty
Medical Guidance
TeleAdvocacy Available
Offers FREE Initial Consultation
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*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
Navigating healthcare can feel overwhelming and confusing. As a Board-Certified Patient Advocate and founder of Patient Advocates of Southwest FL, LLC (PAoSWFL), I help individuals and families navigate the medical system with clarity, confidence, and calm.

Whether you're facing a new diagnosis, struggling with medical decisions, or advocating for a loved one, I provide the time, attention, and expertise needed to ensure you are truly heard and supported.

I offer:
- Expert healthcare navigation and care coordination
- Real-time hospital and ER advocacy
- Behavioral health and substance-use navigation
- Coaching that strengthens independence and self-advocacy

My approach combines compassion with fierce, knowledgeable advocacy — providing you with a partner who stands by your side throughout every step of your healthcare journey. No one should have to navigate it alone.
Important Information About Me
  • I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
  • I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
  • I am insured
  • My geographical area of practice is Southwest Florida
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
My journey into patient advocacy began the day I realized that even with decades of healthcare experience behind me, navigating the system for a loved one was far more difficult than it should be. Despite my clinical and administrative background, I encountered delays, bias, incomplete information, and moments when it felt as though no one was genuinely listening to me.

Standing in that gap — between what should happen and what was actually happening — changed the course of my career. It showed me firsthand how overwhelming, isolating, and vulnerable healthcare can feel, even for those who understand it. And it affirmed something I now hold as the foundation of my work: every patient and every family deserves to feel heard, supported, empowered, and not alone.

That experience ultimately led me to become a Board-Certified Patient Advocate and to establish Patient Advocates of Southwest FL, LLC. Today, I bring a combination of clinical insight, healthcare leadership experience, and lived advocacy to each client I serve. My work focuses on providing clarity in complex situations, enhancing communication between patients and providers, and ensuring that every client receives care tailored to their needs and beliefs.

At PAoSWFL, I advocate with both compassion and resolve — serving as a clear voice, a strategic guide, and a trusted partner for patients and families who need more than the system can offer on its own.
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Formal Education
Alvernia School of Practical Nursing, Pittsburg, PA, 1977
University of Maine at Fort Kent, B.S. Business Management, 2001
University of Maine, Graduate Certificate. Healthcare Administration, 2003
Bay Path University, MS. Strategic Fundraising & Philanthropy, 2013
Faith Experience
  • Christianity
Additional Skills
1. Professional Expertise
A. Deep Knowledge of Healthcare Systems
-Complex Care Navigation: Skilled at guiding clients through hospital systems, specialty care, treatment plans, and care transitions with clarity and confidence.
- System-Level Insight: Familiar with protocols across hospitals, SNFs, rehab centers, and outpatient providers to ensure timely, appropriate, and coordinated care.
- Protection of Rights: Strong understanding of patient rights, HIPAA, and healthcare compliance—advocating for privacy, safety, and ethical care at every step.

B. Strategic Advocacy
- Conflict Resolution: Experienced in addressing breakdowns in communication, care delays, and systemic barriers so clients receive the care they need and deserve.
- Emergency & Hospital Advocacy: Provides real-time support during ER visits and hospitalizations, ensuring clients are heard, respected, and treated without bias.
- Behavioral Health Navigation: Supports families navigating substance use, mental health challenges, and complex behavioral health systems with a rare blend of personal insight and professional training.

C. Client-Centered Communication
- Medical Simplification: Breaks down complex medical information into clear, actionable steps so clients feel informed—not overwhelmed.
- Deep Listening: Creates a safe, judgment-free space where clients feel heard, supported, and not alone.
- Education & Empowerment: Teaches clients how to communicate effectively with their healthcare teams, building long-term confidence and independence.

2. Unique Attributes
A. Servant-Warrior Mindset
- Compassion + Courage: Combines a servant’s heart with a warrior’s resolve—offering empathy, humility, and unwavering advocacy in difficult healthcare moments.
- Steadfast Support: Approaches every situation with grace, strength, and the commitment to protect clients’ voices, values, and choices.

B. Lived Experience as a Source of Strength
- Personal Healthcare Navigation: Your own complicated medical journey fuels your commitment to ensuring others never feel lost, dismissed, or alone.
- Empathy Through Loss: Personal loss and profound life experience allow you to support clients with depth, compassion, and a genuine understanding of what families endure.

C. Transformational Communication
- Story-Driven Clarity: Uses personal experiences and real-world cases to motivate, educate, and offer perspective during emotionally challenging times.
- Educational Leadership: Creates articles, tools, talks, and trainings that simplify healthcare and empower patients and caregivers to act with confidence.
Professional Affiliations
- Maine Commission of Community Service (governor appointment), 2006-12. Chair 2009-12.
- Medical navigation experience with families experiencing a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) diagnosis of a spouse, child, brother, or sister.
- Extensive public speaking and presentation experience - local, regional, state, and national levels.