Healthcare Advocate: Protecting a Loved One Before Surgery
Being a healthcare advocate for a loved one before surgery is an important job. Some surgeries are planned, and in that case, there is time to research ahead of time. The patient and their healthcare advocate deserve to be well-informed...
Your Loved One is Getting Older... Now What?
All of us, if we are fortunate, will eventually grow old. Along with a great deal of wisdom and a lifetime of happy memories, old age presents a unique set of challenges. If you are trying to support a loved one who is aging – or if you...
Bridging the Gap: How a Healthcare Advocate May Have Helped in the “Take Care of Maya” Case
You may have watched the Netflix special “Take Care of Maya” or saw the recent $211 Million dollar judgement against John Hopkins Hospital. As a nurse that started her career in a children’s hospital and is now a healthcare...
Staying Young When You Are Getting Old(er)
We celebrated my father’s 85th birthday earlier this year. Just about everyone who meets my dad makes the same remark: “He is a really GOOD 85.” (My mom also gets frequent, well-deserved props for being an equally impressive...
The Ovarian Cancer Chronicles are back!
Cancer is a funny thing. On the one hand, it has been my greatest teacher and I have felt tremendous gratitude to learn about myself through these experiences. I said once that cancer has given me the gift of knowing and loving myself and that IS...
Hey, fellow PA's... Got a Client Contract? If not, why not?
A Crystal Ball is Good for Many Things - Except in Business Practices "For thousands of years, crystal balls have been used for divination purposes to seek visions through clairvoyance and see one's future through fortune telling. This magnificent...
How to Become an Active Partner in Your Health Care Journey in 10 Easy Steps
Collaboration between patients and medical professionals is at the heart of achieving optimal health outcomes. As a patient, you hold a pivotal role in your own healthcare. Building a genuine partnership necessitates mutual effort and...
Mercereau Report #9 - The More Information You Have, the Safer and Healthier You Can Be!
This is the ninth in a series of blogs written by patient advocacy pioneer and longtime educator, Karen Mercereau. The Mercereau Report is designed to communicate information that is pertinent to our expanding practices - scientific and practical...
HOW THE "TAKE CARE OF MAYA" CASE IS A WAKE UP CALL FOR INDEPENDENT PATIENT ADVOCACY
Maya Kowalski is a complex medical case. She is one of millions of patients who suffer from a chronic, complex health condition. You may already be familiar with Maya’s case though the Netflix documentary: “Take Care of Maya.&rdquo...
October-Health Literacy Month
October isn’t just about turning leaves, pumpkins spice lattes and mammograms (although those are important too). October is Health Literacy Month. Health literacy might not be a term that everyone is familiar with, but it is a crucial...
What Gaslighting Is, How to Recognize It, and What Next to Do
I’m sorry, but I can’t find anything wrong with you. Are you sure about all these symptoms? It’s probably just your body’s reaction to the stress from these years of the pandemic?" Or, Well, I really don’t think...
What's Being Done to Finally Address The High Cost of Prescription Medications
Until 2003, Medicare covered most hospital and doctor visits for the elderly, but it did not cover the ever-growing costs of prescription medications. Former President George W. Bush changed that when he signed a law adding prescription drug...
The Future Of AI And Patient Advocacy: A New Era in Healthcare
In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the role of patient advocates has become increasingly vital. We offer unwavering support and guidance to ensure patients receive the best possible care. As technology continues to...
The Rippling Effects of Patient Advocacy
I received a wonderful message the other day that reminded me of the incredible power of Patient Advocacy. It came from a client of mine, named Barb, who turned her father's end-of-life experience into a beautiful testament to how the simple words...
Medical Transparency - A Double-Edged Sword?
EditorsNote: Alan Feren M.D. FACS is a1970 Graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine with more than 50 years of experience as a practicing physician and surgeon, medical treatment guidelines author, medical director, chief medical...