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 suddenly all the patients are wearing the same thing – that infamous gown. Yep, drafty in the back, and if you're lucky, you may have one with a small pocket at the front where your telemetry device can be shoved in. Then there are those bootie-style socks where one size fits Godzilla. If you're small like me, they slip on easily and almost reach my knees. Unfortunately, they slip off just as easily and are pretty much useless when it comes to walking around in them.
Every patient – whether the President of the hospital, a famous lawyer or politician, or an unemployed basket weaver – you all appear the same in the eyes of the institution when you are stripped «down to the gown.»
The Problem: Losing Your Identity When You Need It Most
With this reality, it's hard to stand out as the loving spouse, the wonderful parent, or the feisty sibling – all those things you think you are! Your hard-earned titles become useless too. No one cares (nor should they) that you have an alphabet soup behind your name. And the final injury? No one cares if you have a gold, silver, or platinum charge card – because none of those things are going to make you get better (again, nor should they).
You think to yourself – there must be a better way. I've done all these things, I've been all these things. How can all my past achievements just disappear when I go into the hospital?
But here's what I learned during my 35 years of advocating through my husband's medical journey: You don't need to feel invisible or confused during your hospital stay.
The Solution: Your Personal Champion
The answer isn't to look toward the medical institution for a feeling of uniqueness. It's not that you're not special – it's that they're trained to look for your specific ailment and how to treat that. Their focus is necessarily narrow.
But there IS a better way: Look for an independent patient advocate.
Find someone who will work for YOU and not have to answer to the institution. Someone who sees you as the whole person you are – the loving spouse, wonderful parent, feisty sibling. Someone who can help you navigate the overwhelm and gain the clarity you need.
What Independent Patient Advocates Actually Do
Let me share a real example from my own experience. Following a medication overdose, my husband was unable to see properly or read – his brain wires got all confused. So I sat with him and taught him to read again, something as simple as «See Jane, see Jane run.» We had to start from the beginning to get things going correctly. That's something only a special caregiver or advocate could have accomplished at his side.
This is an example of the kinds of places where independent patient advocates can make the difference – they provide that dedicated, personal support — or help you find someone who can — that goes beyond medical care.
Here's what makes them different (and this isn't commonly discussed):
While hospital-employed patient advocates, navigators, social workers, and discharge planners play important roles, their capacity to support patients is limited by hospital policies, heavy caseloads, and limited resources. These advocates are accountable to hospital administration, which can restrict how they advocate for you.
Independent Patient Advocates work differently. They:
- Work directly for YOU, often collaborating with your loved ones
- Offer personalized, one-on-one support without hospital policy constraints
- Help track your medications and watch for dangerous interactions
- Connect you to resources that address needs affecting your health but not supported by traditional healthcare
- Coordinate with overworked hospital staff to ensure your best possible care
- See you as YOU see yourself – as the complete person you are
Many have previously worked in healthcare settings and bring a wealth of experience, but their priority is always the patient, not the institution.
Take Action: Don't Face Your Hospital Stay Alone
You deserve to feel confident and clear about your hospital experience, not overwhelmed and confused. Here's how to get the support you need:
Find Your Advocate: Visit Greater National Advocates at GNANOW.ORG – a free service that helps connect you with independent patient advocates in your area. Yes, it's completely free, and their mission is supporting both patients and advocates.
Get Prepared: Download my free Med Check Mastery Guide at hospitaltohealth.com. This essential resource will help you track medications and spot potential interactions – something that could make a critical difference in your care.
Stay Informed: My new book, "Surviving the Hospital – Six Secrets Every Patient Should Know," launches next month and will give you the confidence and clarity you need for your hospital stay. Sign up at hospitaltohealth.com to be notified when it's available on Amazon and in bookstores.
Remember: An independent patient advocate knows you're a loving spouse, wonderful parent, and feisty sibling. They know how to keep you feeling special in an otherwise sterile setting. They may even convince you to pack a bag with your favorite pajamas and comfy slippers so you can have greater comfort during your stay.
You don't have to be just another patient in a gown. You can be YOU – with someone in your corner who sees your full worth and fights for your best outcome.
About the Author: Val Barschaw is the author of "Surviving the Hospital – Six Secrets Every Patient Should Know" and successfully advocated during her husband's ten-year journey waiting for a heart transplant and 25 years of post-transplant care.