Take Control of Your Surgery: Why Proper Preparation Can Change Everything
These are the two questions I ask every patient and caregiver I meet who's facing major elective surgery. "Do you want to get better?" "Will you let me help you with a proven pathway to assist you?" Your answers will determine everything...
Owning Your Care: Agency, Advocacy, Responsibility, and the 50-50 Healthcare Partnership
We often hear the phrase “practice what you preach.” As both a physician and a patient, I’ve learned that nowhere is this more important than in how we navigate healthcare. Over the years, I’ve written about the importance...
Sometimes It Just Takes One Phone Call
Navigating the healthcare system is challenging. Patients are already going through difficult times navigating a complex healthcare system. Imagine when they get a surprise medical bill in the mail! I found myself in this situation two months...
The Art of Independent Patient Advocacy: Learning Through Experience
Two years ago, I set out to learn what Independent Patient Advocacy was all about. I was excited to pivot my career and start a business. I started with the following question: What is the difference between a nurse case manager and an Independent...
Who Are You When You're Stripped Down to the Gown? Why Every Hospital Patient Needs an Advocate
Have you ever stopped to think about who you are when you're in the hospital? Or more to the point – who do others think you are when you're feeling overwhelmed and confused about your care? Picture this: You're facing a hospital stay, and...
Living Well With Thyroid Eye Disease
Living with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) can be challenging—physically, emotionally, and mentally. From changes in appearance to vision problems and eye discomfort, the impact of TED often goes far beyond the eyes. But with the right support...
Discharge Planning is Broken: Why Independent Patient Advocates Are the Missing Link Patients Desperately Need
Discharge Planning is Broken: Why Healthcare Advocates Are the Missing Link Patients Desperately Need What You'll Learn in This Article Discharge planning is meant to help patients transition safely from hospital to home—but all too often...
Improve Outcomes with Better Visit Preparation
How to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit A guide for patients, a tool for patient advocates A doctor’s visit can be more satisfying—and lead to better health outcomes—if you prepare ahead of time. The average length...
When Your Loved One is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
by Lorrie Klemons, MSN, RN, CDP, EOLD The Need for Intensive Care: Being in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a very scary and frightening experience...both for the patient and the family. Patients are there because they are...
Coffee, Chaos, and Caregiving: The Ultimate Balancing Act
Coffe, Chaos, and Caregiving: The Ultimate Balancing Act What You're About to Read You’re about to become someone who balances a full-time job and caregiving—and no one gives you a handbook for what that really means. You're...
From Survivor to Supporter: Explore Turning Your Lived Experiences Into Advocacy
Learn About Advocacy In today's often intricate and overwhelming healthcare landscape, an Independent Patient Advocate stands as a dedicated professional working exclusively for the patient and their loved ones. Unlike advocates employed by...
From Survivor to Supporter: A Checklist for Your Journey To Advocacy
Learn About Advocacy: What is Independent Patient Advocacy and Survivor Support? Review Greater National Advocate (GNA)'s Introduction to Survivor Support, and be sure to watch the included survivor support video. What Exactly is Independent...
How to Help Assure a Safe Hospital Discharge
I recently had a client that experienced numerous hospitalizations in a short period of time. I have been working with this client for over a year. I know her health history, I know her providers, and I know her current medications. This hospital...
Avoid Out Of Network Reimbursement Issues
It seems that insurance companies, having too much time on their hands now that AI has taken over, are placing more and more hurdles on accepting Out Of Network invoices for reimbursement, let alone paying them. Let's talk about recognizing...
"The First Client: They Are Killing My Wife."
This submission is reprinted with permission from Dr. Gerda Maissel, MD, BCPA, author of the monthly Substack blog, The Foglight. The First Client: They Are Killing My Wife On the other end of the telephone call, a grown man in his sixties was...