Marie Smith
Step by Step Support
Marie Smith
Step by Step Support
Advocate Location
Plantation , FL 33317
Specialty
Special Care & Aging
Other Services
Medical Guidance
TeleAdvocacy Available
Offers FREE Initial Consultation
*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
With over a decade of experience in navigating the Healthcare system, I can confidently aid you with:
Senior Care Navigation:
- Supporting Seniors or their families to manage their healthcare
- Coordinating and making doctors' appointments
- Researching and helping select the best independent living, assisted living, nursing home or dementia care facilities for your needs
- Serving as the main contact with your senior's providers reporting back to family members
- Researching and securing home health services like home health aids, physical therapy, companion care, or assistance with activities of daily life
- Providing senior care coordination of all of your senior's services including in-home services, transportation, meal prep, doctors, specialists, pharmacists, and nursing homes
Care Coordination:
- Managing your healthcare needs by coordinating appointments and services as well as doing research into options
- Attending doctors' appointments remotely or in person to communicate your needs and help advocate for the best care
- Making sure your doctors and specialists communicate well with each other and know all of your diagnosis and medications
- Supporting a loved one when they have a health crisis and you can't be there in person like emergency room visits, hospitalization or mental health crises.
Clinical Navigation:
- Finding doctors, hospitals, or specialists
- Finding and selecting facilities such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), rehabilitation hospitals, surgical centers or mental health treatment facilities
- Helping you prepare for doctor's appointments so you can ask the right questions
- Finding second opinions
Senior Care Navigation:
- Supporting Seniors or their families to manage their healthcare
- Coordinating and making doctors' appointments
- Researching and helping select the best independent living, assisted living, nursing home or dementia care facilities for your needs
- Serving as the main contact with your senior's providers reporting back to family members
- Researching and securing home health services like home health aids, physical therapy, companion care, or assistance with activities of daily life
- Providing senior care coordination of all of your senior's services including in-home services, transportation, meal prep, doctors, specialists, pharmacists, and nursing homes
Care Coordination:
- Managing your healthcare needs by coordinating appointments and services as well as doing research into options
- Attending doctors' appointments remotely or in person to communicate your needs and help advocate for the best care
- Making sure your doctors and specialists communicate well with each other and know all of your diagnosis and medications
- Supporting a loved one when they have a health crisis and you can't be there in person like emergency room visits, hospitalization or mental health crises.
Clinical Navigation:
- Finding doctors, hospitals, or specialists
- Finding and selecting facilities such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), rehabilitation hospitals, surgical centers or mental health treatment facilities
- Helping you prepare for doctor's appointments so you can ask the right questions
- Finding second opinions
Important Information About Me
- I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
- I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
- I am insured
- My geographical area of practice is Dade and Broward County. I can perform In-Person visits within these areas, and Telehealth Nationwide.
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
I bring over 25 years of experience in healthcare and social services. As early as 1999, I've worked with individuals with mental illness, disabilities, and elderly patients within the Dade County Guardianship. I served as a liaison between attorneys, clients and medical providers and made necessary court appearances. Evaluated the personal, household, medical, and care needs of clients. Provide recommendations for appropriate placement and care, including the authorization and oversight of medical treatment and ongoing care, etc. These early experiences allowed me to pursue the opening of my own licensed Group Home in 2005. Owning my own Group Home allowed me and my staff to care for people with disabilities and opened up the door to be an independent contractor working with APD (Agency for Person with Disability) as a Medicaid Provider and also I have also been able to work with AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration). As an open-heart surgery survivor who also lost her mother to cancer and a brother who struggled with Spinocerebellar Ataxia, I personally understand the emotional and practical challenges faced by both patients and caregivers. After seeing how challenging it can be to navigate this health care system on my own, its a privilege to be able help somebody else get the answers that they need, knowing how difficult it can be firsthand. Step by Step Support is my way of giving back-offering compassion, guidance, and advocacy to those who need it most.
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