Greater National Advocates Blog

Originally published by A+J Patient Advocacy Before they enter the room, your doctor, nurse, or other care provider prepared for your visit. You, the patient, should be just as prepared. A visit with any health care provider should reflect a...

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...

As a nurse advocate, you'll have the opportunity to speak up for vulnerable patients and help them get the care they need. Here’s how you can advocate for them. In a perfect world, nurses would have plenty of time to spend with each patient...

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...