New Healthcare Reform
It has been some time since I last wrote. I have been analyzing my business. One thing I realized was the importance of this blog. I recently went to a conference called Health 2.0 meets Information Technology. It was very inspiring. I loved viewing all the new healthcare website. I left with some great ideas and ways to be more consumer friendly. I learned from this conference that the concept of the health advocate had not reached the main stream healthcare consciousness. Yes, there was discussion including the idea of patient advocate but nothing about the place in healthcare as a business. I felt as if I was on the outside looking in and needed to educate people especially the medical field why the healthcare advocacy business was needed as an integral part of a person's care.
Most primary care doctors tell me they provide the services an advocate does. I strongly disagree because if they are doing it it isn't working. How many doctors actually personally follow up with a patient when sent off to a specialist? They get the reports weeks after the the visit or treatments, read it and consider themselves up to date. Do they actually know how the patient is doing? Probably not until the patient resurfaces in the office. I understand primary care offices are swamped and doctors are overwhelmed but don't pretend you are acting in the best interest of the patient as an advocate. Why not support the role of the advocate as an integral part of healthcare and not as an annoying voice asking for more help or information? Involving advocate would also decrease the work load for doctors . For instance, why not have an advocate deal with difficult timely referrals or second opinions? Insurance refusals? I suggestion a partnership to enhance patient care and healing.
Posted by HealthCare Whisperer at 6/10/2009 9:18 AM 
Categories: obama, healthcare reform, insurance, advocacy
Tags: insurance healthcare reform primary care advocacy patient advocate
Categories: obama, healthcare reform, insurance, advocacy
Tags: insurance healthcare reform primary care advocacy patient advocate
Amen to that. I am a former health care professional who is looking to change careers and start working in the area of my passion, which is patient advocacy. I do not want to start my own business, as I think the current economic climate would not be conducive to that, but I am afraid that it will be rather difficult to find a job as a patient advocate. Everyone I talk to thinks that a patient advocate is a "great idea" and a "much needed service," but the next question that everyone asks me is "who will pay for that?" The assumption, obviously, is that no one would be willing to pay for that type of service except for the patients themselves and then, only those who are financially rather well off and therefore, able to do so. Certainly this can't be the case, but I am rather stumped as to what people or business entities to approach in search of a patient advocate position. I am looking for any ideas or any people who might already be doing this that would be willing to help me out. I have a very strong belief and conviction that patient advocates are absolutely vital to the successful and expeditious diagnosis and treatment of many chronic and/or terminal conditions, but how do I convince a potential employer of that? Also, how do I obtain a paid position as a patient advocate when all I have at this point is a couple volunteer experiences, but the right educational and work background? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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