Who’s Really Advocating for You? The Critical Difference Between Hospital and Independent Patient Advocates

Written by Blaire Flamand RN, CCRN, CFRN, CHE; Lead Independent RN Patient Advocate, Founder of CompassHealth Advocacy & Education

When navigating the complexities of the healthcare system, patients and their families often seek the help of a patient advocate. While many hospitals offer patient advocates as part of their services, these individuals ultimately serve the interests of both the patient and the hospital. This dual allegiance creates an inherent conflict of interest. A hospital-provided patient advocate must balance the patient’s needs with the hospital’s policies, financial considerations, and legal interests. While they may assist with communication and basic concerns, their ability to challenge hospital decisions or push for alternative care options is often limited.

In contrast, an independent patient advocate works solely for the patient and their family, with no ties to the hospital, payer, or other entities that make up the broader healthcare system.

Because they are hired directly by the patient, Independent Patient Advocates have one priority — ensuring that the patient receives the best possible care based on their needs, not the hospital’s interests.

Independent advocates help patients understand their medical options, facilitate communication between providers, assist with medical billing and insurance disputes, and ensure that care decisions align with the patient’s values and preferences. Unlike hospital advocates, they can push for second opinions, explore alternative treatments, and even help transition care outside of a particular healthcare system if necessary.

An independent patient advocate who is also a registered nurse (RN) or other licensed healthcare professional brings an additional level of expertise and support to the table. RNs and other healthcare professionals have extensive medical training, enabling them to interpret complex medical information, recognize early warning signs of complications, and ask the right questions that can impact a patient’s care.  For example, suppose a patient is being discharged from the hospital too soon or prescribed medications that may have dangerous interactions. In that case, an RN patient advocate can step in to question these decisions and advocate for safer alternatives.

Beyond direct medical oversight, a patient advocate can ensure that appropriate physician referrals and transitions of care are closely monitored. Many patients struggle with being bounced from one provider to another, receiving fragmented care that leads to delays in treatment and worsening conditions. Independent Patient advocates work proactively to ensure referrals are made to the right specialists, reduce unnecessary wait times for appointments, and ensure that critical health concerns are addressed.

Additionally, clinical advocates oversee transitions of care—whether from hospital to home, rehabilitation facility, or another provider—helping patients avoid preventable hospital readmissions and complications. This level of oversight ensures that patients receive continuity of care, clear discharge instructions, and necessary follow-ups to optimize their health outcomes. They also help the family prepare for discharge by working with the discharge planner to ensure that the necessary resources are in place for a smooth transition. 

Another key advantage of an independent RN patient advocate is their ability to incorporate holistic and integrative medicine options into a patient’s care plan. Unlike hospital-based advocates, whose expertise may be limited to conventional treatment recommendations, an RN advocate with knowledge of integrative medicine can help patients explore evidence-based holistic therapies alongside traditional medical treatments. This may include dietary interventions, lifestyle modifications, acupuncture, herbal medicine, mind-body practices, or functional medicine approaches for managing chronic conditions. By working with the patient’s care team, an RN advocate ensures that these complementary treatments are considered, safely integrated, and aligned with the patient’s overall health goals.

The benefits of hiring a clinical independent patient advocate are clear: patients receive not only unbiased and personalized support but also medical expertise that can significantly impact their health outcomes.

Families no longer have to navigate complex medical situations alone or worry that their concerns will be dismissed. When a loved one is in the hospital or facing a complex diagnosis, having an advocate who is both medically knowledgeable and solely focused on the patient’s well-being can make a critical difference.

For those seeking true advocacy in their medical journey, an independent patient advocate is the best choice for ensuring that care remains patient-centered, transparent, and free from institutional influence—while also offering a pathway to integrative, whole-person healing.

Bio: Blaire Flamand RN, CCRN, CFRN, CHE; Lead Independent RN Patient Advocate, Founder of Compass Health Advocacy & Education. Blair has over 15 years of seasoned ICU nursing experience (in hospital, flight nurse, and ambulance transport nursing), successfully managing complex cases. To learn more about Blaire, please email her at CompassHealthRN@outlook.com to set up an appointment at CompassHealthRN@outlook.com. You can visit her website at https://www.compasshealthadvocacy.com or her listing on Great National Advocates.