Greater National Advocates Blog

Editor's note: This is part 1 in a series of introspective blogs written by Antra Boyd, iRNPA detailing her personal journey as an Independent Patient Advocate and recurrent ovarian cancer patient. It was my first visit to my gyn/onc in six months...

Have you or someone you know been hospitalized and discharged with a poor understanding of the follow-up care plan? Have you ever left a hospital without a clear understanding of why specific procedures occurred in the first place? A recent client...

We start with a crisis. Blood sugars are high and out of control. Panic sets in. Frantically searching for answers provides a temporary solution. You relax and return to “normal” until the cycle repeats itself again. I had a client who kept...

Have you or someone you know been hospitalized and discharged with a poor understanding of the follow-up care plan? Do you have a clear understanding of why specific procedures occurred while in the hospital? A recent client had this experience...

It is a naïve thought, but I am going to share it anyway. Wouldn’t it be great if health care was not categorized as either physical health or mental health? Why isn’t it all just called health care? We have one body, in which all of the systems...

Having a loved one in the hospital is frightening. Hospitals are large, sterile, and intimidating, often leading people to feel helpless. Here are some strategies that can help assure your loved one gets the best possible care. Be Prepared First...

First and foremost, it is important to note you cannot be everywhere. There are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week and no matter hard we try we cannot change that fact. You can provide help for your parents even if you live far away...

What effect would a serious illness have on you and your family? According to the Journal of Palliative Care Medicine, a serious illness is a condition that carries a high risk of mortality, negatively impacts quality of life and daily function...

Question: If you have a legal issue, do you go directly to a judge? In most cases no, you hire an attorney, a trusted advisor that knows the legal system. If you want to invest, do you go directly to the stock market? In most cases no, you hire a...

Perseverance, the secret of all triumphs. Victor Hugo I recently heard discussed in a webinar on succeeding in business. A compiled definition: perseverance is a steady, persistent effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, obstacles...

I got the phone call that all parents dread. “Mom, Matt was in a serious car accident on his way home.” I tried to call the hospital half-way across the country to find out what happened to my youngest son. No one would talk to me. They wouldn’t...

Aging Alone. We all know someone who is aging and wants to remain independent in their own home. Many in this growing population are finding themselves aging alone without the support of adult children, spouse, relatives, or friends. Studies have...

When we think of ‘Advance Directives’, most of us prefer to put it off for another day. “I’ll get to it later.” we say to ourselves. But what if the emergency happened today and there wasn’t time to prepare? What is important to you? Does anyone...

Not long ago, I was chatting with a special teenager in my life. As we talked, he asked, “What do you do for work?” I knew he had medical issues that required some specialist care, and so I said that I help people to talk with their doctor. I was...

I’m a nurse, turned patient safety advocate. And I want to let you in on one of the best-kept secrets many of us in this field have learned as we help patients navigate our complex healthcare system. But before I do that, I want to introduce you...