Kathy Mikos

DNP, RN, NEA-BC, BCPA
The Navocate Group, LLC
Kathy

Kathy Mikos

DNP, RN, NEA-BC, BCPA
The Navocate Group, LLC
Advocate Location
Frankfort , IL 60423
Specialty
Medical Guidance
Other Services
Special Care & Aging
TeleAdvocacy Available
Offers FREE Initial Consultation
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*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
. Help patients and families understand complex medical diagnoses and treatment options

• Prepare patients and families for physician appointments and important medical discussions

• Join medical appointments or care discussions (in person or virtually) to support understanding and decision-making

• Help families ask the right questions and advocate for appropriate care

• Navigate insurance challenges, authorizations, and coverage questions

• Coordinate care across multiple providers, specialists, and healthcare settings

• Assist with hospital discharge planning and care transitions

• Evaluate options for rehabilitation, assisted living, and long-term care

• Provide guidance during serious illness and end-of-life decision making

• Support caregivers who feel overwhelmed navigating the healthcare system

• Participate virtually in important physician conversations or hospital discussions when families want experienced guidance in real time
Important Information About Me
  • I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
  • I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
  • My geographical area of practice is Nationwide
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
My path to patient advocacy grew out of more than four decades working inside the healthcare system.

My path to patient advocacy grew out of more than four decades working inside the healthcare system.

I began my career in clinical care and went on to serve for many years in executive hospital leadership, where I worked closely with patients, families, physicians, and care teams during some of the most complex and challenging moments in healthcare. In those roles I frequently helped navigate difficult clinical situations, patient grievances, care coordination issues, and system barriers that families often struggled to understand.

Over time it became clear that even the most capable and well-informed families can feel overwhelmed when faced with serious illness, complicated medical decisions, or the realities of navigating today’s healthcare system.

That experience led me to found The Navocate Group LLC, an independent patient advocacy practice dedicated to supporting individuals and families as they navigate complex healthcare situations.

Through my work with The Navocate Group, I provide experienced guidance and advocacy to patients and families across the United States. Drawing on decades of clinical and healthcare leadership experience, I help families understand their options, communicate effectively with healthcare teams, and make informed decisions during times that are often stressful and uncertain.

My approach is both strategic and compassionate. I work alongside families to bring clarity to complicated situations, ensure their voices are heard, and help them move forward with confidence.
Contact Advocate
Formal Education
College of Saint Theresa, BSN
Northern Illinois University, MSN
Rush University, DNP
Additional Skills
• More than 40 years of healthcare experience including clinical practice and executive hospital leadership

• Deep understanding of hospital systems, care coordination, and healthcare decision-making

• Ability to translate complex medical and healthcare information into clear, understandable guidance for patients and families

• Skilled at facilitating productive conversations between patients, families, and healthcare teams

• Experience navigating complex care situations involving multiple specialists, hospitals, and healthcare systems

• Calm, steady guidance for families facing stressful and time-sensitive medical decisions

• Strong advocate for ensuring patient and family voices are heard within complex healthcare environments

• Available for both in-person support (within 30 miles of Frankfort, Illinois) and virtual advocacy nationwide
Professional Affiliations
Board Certified Patient Advocate - BCPA
Nursing Executive Advanced, Board Certified - NEA-BC

PUBLICATIONS

Mikos, K, “Putting an End to Patient Overcrowding,” American Nurse Today. October, 2006.

Mikos, K, “Improving Patient Flow Dramatically Decreases Wait in Emergency and Inpatient Admitting,” Modern Health Care, September, 2005.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Advancing Accountability for Improving Outcomes, Advisory Board Company, i-Round Patient Experience Conference, Washington DC February, 2014.
Ingalls Health System: Improving Quality & Patient Safety, AHA Conference – Chicago, Il. June 5, 2014.
Technology Advances Accountability for Improving Outcomes, 14th Annual PRC Excellence in Healthcare Conference, Orlando, Fl, June, 2013.
Improving Patient Throughput: An Organizational Systems Approach, World Research Group – Boston, MA, May, 2008.
Improving Patient Throughput: An Organizational Systems Approach, World Research Group – San Diego, CA, December, 2008.
Process Redesign: Implementing Protocols for a Seamless Throughput Process, Strategies To Optimize Patient Throughput, Las Vegas, NV, March 28, 2006.
Process Redesign: Implementing Protocols for a Seamless Throughput Process, The Scottsdale Institute, Scottsdale, AZ, March 28, 2006.
Transforming Culture to Ensure Patient Throughput Outcomes, Toronto East General Hospital, October 4th and 5th, 2006.
Bridging the Gap: Hand-Off Communication, JCAHO: Joint Commission’s 20th Annual National Conference on Quality 7 Patient Safety, November, 2006.
Poster Session, Integration of Voice Technology to Improve Hand-off Communications, IHI National Conference, Orlando, FL, December 17-19, 2006.