Patient Advocacy as a Profession, Has Attracted Physicians, Specialists, Nurses, Social Workers, Lawyers, Insurance Claims Adjusters, and many other backgrounds.
The wide range of backgrounds allows you to decide which skills and personal history are important for you and your healthcare journey.
Questions you should be asking yourself before looking into Patient Advocacy:
- What are the exact services I’m looking for?
- Do a need an advocate that specializes in my specific situation?
- Is my need for a long term or short term advocate?
- Will I need a local advocate or remote?
- Do I want an advocate to come with me for medical visits?
- What is my desired outcome?
- What is my budget to reach that desired outcome?
Independent Practicing vs. Corporate Patient Advocates
What’s the difference? All patient advocates are there to help you. In general, corporate advocates will be more of a “generic” advocate who deals with every patient that comes to them from the corporation that hires them. Imagine a hospital hired advocate, they will server everyone in the hospital that is referred to them. While an independent advocate, can be more specialized in the services that they offer as well as who they offer them to. Another difference is a corporate advocate will also have to follow the rules of the corporation that hired them. Whereas, the independent advocate reports to no-one but you.
These are very specific differences that can make a big impact on the recommendations that you would receive.
We advise, if you do utilize a corporate patient advocate, be sure to ask if they refer outside of their corporation. This question will give you a clue as to limitations you will recieve for referral recommendations.
THOSE THAT ASK, OFTEN GET
The reason why patient advocates get so much done is that they know the right questions to ask. The best advocates are the ones that “were on the inside” at one point in their career in the field of your ailment or have personally experienced the same illness as you.
When you are hiring an advocate, make sure they have the right personality. You need someone that will be assertive, ask the right questions and get you what you need, when you need it.
Regardless of which type advocate you choose, you should ask a few questions before hiring or asking for advice.
