Patient Advocate Job Description

Patient advocates intervene, assist, manage and fight for their clients or to promote issues. Patient advocates, also referred to as health advocates, take the burdens of dealing with doctors, insurance companies or medical issues or other issues during their clients illnesses. They represent their clients, for instance, when there are disputes with medical bills. If you like representing people or resolving issues, you might consider a job as a patient advocate.

Environmental

Environmental health advocates identify, educate and raise awareness about important issues facing people. They research, analyze and develop strategies. These health advocates work with health care professionals to create guidelines to help people avoid AIDS, stop drunken driving or avoid H1N1 or swine flu. Environmental health advocates distribute those guidelines to the media. The health advocates are employed by non-profit organizations, governmental agencies or private firms. This job requires a bachelor's degree in communications or scientific majors, such as biology, environmental engineering or a related area.

Patients

Patient advocates navigate the medical system, then inform, counsel and help their patients and their families understand the results. Patient advocates fill out paperwork such as insurance claims. These advocates have to keep abreast of current medical laws, rules and policies such as Medicare, health insurance companies and other companies. If you're interested in this job, you must be empathetic, patient and a good communicator. You'll need time-management, organizational and problem-solving skills.

Education

Environmental health advocacy jobs require a bachelor's degree in communications or scientific majors, such as biology, environmental engineering or a related area. There are no degrees with a patient advocate major so advocates can have a combination of education and experience. According to aspireforsuccess.com, advocates should have a bachelor's degree with community organization or health education experience or nursing degree. They also can have an associates' degree in business or high school diploma with customer service experience.

Employers

Environmental health advocates are employed by non-profit organizations governmental agencies or private firms. Patient advocates are employed in private agencies, hospitals, nursing homes and health departments in addition to non-profit organizations such as the National Patient Advocate Network or Patient Advocate Foundation. Advocates earn about $15 per hour. Although this job is one of the fastest growing, according to degreeinfo.com the pay rate is lower than the average of health care workers. This is because of the large number of part-time and entry-level jobs in the patient advocate sector.

Considerations

Patient advocates can do more than represent their patients. They can advocate, lobby and fight for their patients' rights on a legal level. Advocates can promote causes concerning mental health issues, patients' rights regarding medical errors, insurance coverage or insurance reform. In addition, patient advocates fight for women's rights, patients' rights and patient education.

References

• exploreheathcareers.org
• degreesinfo.com