Bring the Humanity Back to Healthcare
"Objectification of people is the heritage of the professionalization of helping relationships. […] When we treat others as objects, even for benevolent reasons, we rob them of their humanity. […] Benevolence without respect is...
Rare Disease Advocacy: The Case For Early Intervention
As parents we all want the best of everything for our children. The best opportunities for education, happiness, and of course, health. But what do you do when you have a child born with a rare genetic disease with no clinical pathway for...
Too Many Pills: The Patient Advocacy Perspective
I have been a Registered Nurse for many years, and an Aging LIfe Care Professional, also known as a geriatric care manager or senior care advocate, for the past 7 years. As a nurse I have always thought of myself as a Patient Advocate, especially...
Don’t Go It Alone: Contact a Nurse Advocate
Gone are the days of anyone, let alone an aging parent, placing a quick call to his/her doctor when not feeling well or needing a quick question answered. Healthcare is increasingly difficult to manage and places high demands on time and energy...
Are You Covered for Nursing Home, Rehabilitation & Skilled Medical Care?
Obtaining reimbursement from Medicare, health plans, and insurance companies has become increasingly complex, especially in today’s healthcare environment following changes in how health care providers and facilities bill for services. Hospitals...
Be the Leader of Your Own Healthcare
It may sound like an overstatement, but it’s true: The work of Kouzes and Posner and the Leadership Challenge has provided me with a framework that guides not only my work within Healthassist, but also the way I conduct my life. Here are the five...
My Personal Journey Begins Here…
Dear Mom and Dad, It’s Linda. I need to tell you something that’s difficult to share and challenging for me to comprehend. A large solid tumor was found on the outside of my right ovary. Let’s back up. I had a little vaginal bleeding toward the...
Your Voice In the Health Care System: Independent Patient Advocates
When I was pregnant with my daughter 21 years ago, family and friends suggested that I hire a baby nurse to help for the first few weeks, especially because my husband and I did not have family nearby. That way, they said, I could get a few hours...
21st Century House Calls: Telemedicine Brings The Doctor To You
Is there a doctor in the house? That question has been asked in emergency situations and in comedy sketches. Most of us don’t have a doctor in the house, but telemedicine is enabling us to consult one without leaving home. I have anecdotal...
Finding 'Dr. Right': My Step-By-Step Strategy
I have a knack for matchmaking. I am not talking about setting people up to date. My track record on that is abysmal—just ask my nieces and nephews to recall their single days. The matchmaking I have a knack for is finding the right doctor to meet...
Mental Illness and Patient Advocacy: Lessons Learned
I am not afraid of mental illness anymore. My years of volunteering on the HelpLine of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) eliminated that fear. Everyone benefits if we discuss mental illness openly, so I would like to share what I...
Taking One for the Team: My COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
Many months ago, I heard AstraZeneca was looking for volunteers for their Covid-19 Phase 3 Clinical Trial and I signed up. At the beginning of October, someone from the A-Z Trial called to see if I was still interested but he warned that the USA...
The Gratification of Integration: RN Patient Advocates at Work
My name is Karen Mercereau, RN, iRNPA, and I have been working with patients as an independent RN Patient Advocate for 18 years now. Amazing experience. I would like to tell you about one of my patients now: The Facts: 65 yo male diagnosed with...
“Ho Ho …(throat clear)…Ho” Don’t Let That Cough Spoil The Holidays!
We are now in the throes of the holiday season, and I’m wishing this finds you well. This is the time of year when we typically attend holiday parties, eat holiday foods, drink holiday drinks, and lose sleep due to the holiday hustle and bustle...
Patient Advocates as Mediators: Where Do We Draw the Line?
As patient advocates, our primary foc us must always be on the needs of our patient/client. This usually requires us to interface with spouses, siblings/children, family and friends, as well as the complex team of providers including physicians...