Greater National Advocates Blog

When you think of October what comes to mind? Pumpkins, corn mazes, ghosts, goblins and who can forget the much-anticipated pumpkin spice latte? Now, narrow it down and think about healthcare and the month of October. What comes to mind now? Pink...

Why did you become a patient or health advocate? Chances are it was to help people who are sick, injured or just older, to get and stay healthy. To help them navigate the complex healthcare system. To help people understand their insurance policy...

Most, if not all of us, have heard the term Sepsis, but how many people really know what Sepsis is? September is Sepsis Awareness Month. Let’s take a deeper look at what sepsis is, who is at risk for sepsis, and how to recognize the signs and...

Are you a healthcare professional who is tired of feeling burned out? You're not alone. Many healthcare workers are feeling the pressure these days. But what if there was another way? What if you could start your own business and work from home...

As a bedside nurse, one of the most rewarding, yet often the most frustrating aspects was always discharges. Let’s face it, when someone is admitted to the hospital, they are leaving one way or another. It makes sense then that discharge planning...

Written and submitted by GNA member, Avrom Fox It was a Thursday afternoon in late June. My phone rang, I picked up the call and listened to a woman telling me about a pressing need: A friend of hers from facebook was posting very alarming...

Medical history. Surgical history. Lists of medications and diagnoses. Family medical history. Height, weight, age. Address, phone number, emergency contact person. Insurance cards, co-pays, deductibles. Every time you visit a doctor, you are...

Every child with significant illness should have an independent patient advocate in addition to their informed and involved parents. Those who work in adult medicine are beginning to understand and embrace the concept of independent patient...

As a hospital-based Case Manager, you work extremely hard to coordinate care between physicians, community resources, DME providers and families. You coordinate with countless insurance plans. You solve problems and create solutions all day long...

Written and submitted by GNA advocate Nancy Ruffner Many of you may know me as or are sizing me up to be a visual person. Yep. Whenever I try to express situations and emotions, I begin to see objects representing the situations. I see material...

Thanks to the type of work I do, I am often asked questions about Medicare during the course of casual conversation. I always hesitate to reply, since given all the nuances and situation-specific considerations, there is no single answer that...

In this post, I want to talk to you about an important tool that can save your life, tell why it is vitally important to always carry a Medical Identity Card. If you go out alone, having a Medical Identity Card can help someone identify you and...

Hi, thank you for publishing my blog. However, I must raise issue with one of your edits. I believe your edit of this sentence changes my original meaning and just doesn't flow well. I wrote: Until that day, we need to advocate for ourselves and...

Since the start of the COVID19 pandemic it is happening more and more frequently. Doctors and other healthcare providers are retiring. So what happens if you get the notification that your healthcare provider is no longer available? For many...

On the TODAY show recently, a woman in LA shared a story of going to her doctor for stomach pain and severe back pain. She was told there was nothing wrong, not to worry, and that she just needed to lose weight. For four years, she kept going to...