The "Harmless" Cold Remedy That Almost Cost Everything: A Patient Advocate's Wake-Up Call Why the "small" medication decisions des
After 35 years as a patient advocate for my husband Bill, a heart transplant recipient, I thought I had seen it all. Ten years navigating the pre-transplant journey, 25 years post-transplant, countless hospitalizations, medication adjustments, and...
Self Advocacy: What I Need to Know
There comes a moment in almost every healthcare journey when a patient realizes something important. No one knows their body, their fears, or their goals better than they do. Yet many patients find themselves sitting quietly in exam rooms, unsure...
A Steady Dock in the Fog
Getting Out of the Fog There’s an old dock that stretches into the water where the fog settles thick and quiet. Some mornings, the shoreline disappears completely. The boathouse across the inlet fades into shadow. The air feels still, muted...
The AI Enhanced Advocate
The AI-Enhanced Advocate You already know the hardest truth about patient advocacy. There are never enough hours in the day. Time is your most scarce resource. As a patient advocate, you need to spend it on people, not...
Surviving the Hospital: 5 Assumptions That Put Patients at Risk
When someone you love is in the hospital, you’re pulled into a world that moves fast, feels overwhelming, and often leaves you with more questions than answers. After 35 years in and out of hospitals with my husband — including through...
When Consent Becomes a Checkbox: How Patients Lose Choice—and How to Take It Back
When Consent Becomes a Checklist: How Patients Lose Choice and How to Take It Back by Blaire Flamand, RN, BCPA, CCRN, CFRN, CHE Most patients believe they are making informed medical choices. In reality, many are simply signing forms they...
How to Understand Medical Bills After a Serious Diagnosis
After receiving a major diagnosis, most patients expect the most challenging part to be the treatment itself. But what follows—an avalanche of medical bills, insurance statements, and provider invoices—can be just as exhausting as the...
Does “Center of Excellence” Make a Difference When Choosing a Hospital?
December 28, 2025 | Nadene Bradburn, BCPA, MHA When you’re choosing a hospital, you’ll probably notice titles like Center of Excellence or Designated Facility. But what does Center of Excellence really mean in hospitals &mdash...
I’m not special. You are not special. The US isn’t Special.
I’m not special. You are not special. The US isn’t special. I know that sentiment may seem radical, but why should it? I am important and worthy of love and unique even, but I am not exceptional. You can be interesting and even...
Rare Disorder or Misdiagnosed? How an Independent Patient Advocate Can Help
Given a diagnosis that doesn’t seem right for you? Maybe your symptoms don’t add up to what your doctor told you? Or... perhaps you were diagnosed with a rare disease and not offered much treatment or support. If this sounds all...
New Year, New You by Dr. Elena Borrelli DMSC, MS, PAC, BCPA
New Year, New You A new year often comes with a fresh perspective, a resolution, and a boost of motivation. There are many reasons why you feel your health needs to get back on track. Maybe you're experiencing symptoms that no one can quite figure...
Sepsis: How Well Do You Know It? How Scared Should You Be?
Sepsis has gained increasing awareness over the past 25 years. Despite this, there is still much to improve in how to best prevent and manage sepsis. Knowledge is key and can help prevent death from this suddenly presenting and rapidly progressing...
I Want the Tape: How I Used HIPAA to Force a Response
In this story, you’ll learn: How to use HIPAA’s Right of Access (45 CFR 164.524) to demand your denial records—and why it works. The exact wording I used to push past delays and force an insurance company to take action. Why...
No Help, No Clarity: The Wild DME Chase Before Discharge
What You’ll Learn in This Post By the end of this blog, you’ll know: ✅ Why you can’t always rely on discharge planners—and how to spot when you need to step in yourself. ✅ What to ask before discharge to avoid delays and...
From Holidays to Headaches: Why Medical Bills Don’t Wait
What You’ll Learn in This Post By the end of this post, you’ll know: ✅ Why medical bills don’t always match your Explanation of Benefits (EOB)—and what to do when amounts keep changing. ✅ How long insurance appeals really...