What Does a Patient Advocate Do?

You may or may not find a particular advocate or advocacy group which can fulfill all of these services.  But in General, here are a listing of typical services that some patient advocates may provide.

Review Records & Care Plan

With the skilled eyes of a care plan expert, gaps in care can typically be found. Reviewing all records, from all physicians, at once can often reveal an incompatibility between physician orders, pharmacological errors and even missing treatments.

Safeguarding Your Health in Medical Facilities

According to John Hopkins, 250,000 people die every year from medical errors.  Other studies show the number as high as 400,000.  An advocate is there to protect you and safeguard your health.  Advocates can stay with you and review all medications administrations while hospitalized or while in a medical facility.

Medication Review

According to a study posted by US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, “About 30% of hospitalized patients have at least one discrepancy on discharge medication reconciliation.”

The study also further states, Medication errors in the form of preventable ADEs ( Adverse Drug Effects), affect 7 million people a year.

Pharmacists as well as physicians can be a contributing factor in these preventable ADE’s. Medication review is a large part of of a patient advocates duties.

1 million emergency room visits are caused by adverse drug effects

Related Article: What questions to ask your physician

Review Treatment Options & Specialists

You have heard the stories, “I was miserable and I kept feeling like my health was getting worse, until I found Mr. X specialist.”  The difference between a healthy you, and where you are today could be a matter of finding the right specialist and/or treatments options.

It is nearly always true, that your current care plan was created with your best interest in mind.  But is it really the best one for you?  Independent patient advocates work outside “the system” which means they are more readily able to review all alternatives without a natural bias towards a particular corporate group.

You don’t only need to be aware of your options, you must also be aware of the necessity.  A 2012 report from the National Academy of Medicine estimates about $210 billion is spent on unneeded or excessively costly treatment.  Experienced advocates will help you get second opinions on treatments that look excessively costly or unneeded.

Medical Bills

According to a Healthline article, billing error rates are as high as 80%.  Most medical bill advocates take a percentage of what they reduced your bill by. Going rates are around 25%.

Health Coaching

Many clients need help making lifestyle choices to help them recover.  For instance, creating a meal plan that helps your immune system help you fight cancer, exercise plans for diabetics that need to become more fit, homeopathic medicine that supports pharmacological outcomes.

Insurance Choices

When it comes to choosing the type of insurance you need or the medicare plan that is best for you, it can be pretty confusing and the outcome can become disastrous. It’s ideal to have an insurance specialist evaluate you and your needs prior to making any insurance plan choices.  A plan that looks good on paper may not be what you actually need.  Choosing an less expensive plan could also cause you thousands and tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention it could also limit the care you are allowed.

Legal

Legal advice can come into play when dealing with malpractice, worker’s compensation, disability filings and medical error review.

Nearly Unlimited Services

Patient Advocates are typically private pay and therefore are not regulated by insurance or medicare on the services they can offer.