Inside the World of a Personal Medical Strategist with Kayla Thompson-Riviere
In this compelling interview, Kayla Thompson-Riviere, RN and Board Certified Patient Advocate, shares her journey from burned-out ICU nurse to the first and only independent advocate on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Confronted with the confusion surrounding the term «patient advocate»—often associated with hospital employees or free services—Kayla rebranded herself as a personal medical strategist. The new title not only clarifies her role but also subtly signals a paid, professional service. With deep roots in critical care, Kayla explains how her strategic, pattern-based approach to advocacy helps clients who are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or dismissed by their medical teams. Her Medical Roadmap service includes a 90-minute intake session, a written action plan, and a follow-up call—all for a flat fee—bringing much-needed clarity and predictability to a broken, opaque healthcare system.
Kayla also speaks candidly about the personal heartbreak that pushed her toward advocacy: the traumatic loss of her daughter due to medical mismanagement during pregnancy. That experience became the fire behind Heard for Life, her advocacy practice whose acronym stands for Health Empowerment through Advocacy for Patients’ Rights and Dignities. Rather than focus solely on “done-for-you” services, Kayla leans into a “done-with-you” model that empowers blue-collar, DIY-minded patients to take action with strategic support. From offering flexible follow-up plans to partnering with billing advocates, she has created a scalable, transparent, and highly personalized care model that resonates with clients and fills a major gap in healthcare.
***Resources & Links Mentioned
www.heardforlife.com
www.heardforlife.com/guide
