How to Be a Medical Advocate
Being a patient advocate for yourself is something everyone should be prepared to do. However, such a task can become overwhelming (and even impossible) when a person, who is already suffering from the stress of an illness, is bombarded with information and faced with the complexities of hospitalization. Professional organizations can provide patient advocates at a fee; however, there are steps you can take to serve as a medical advocate for a loved one.
Instructions
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How to Be a Medical Advocate
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Begin by letting medical personnel know who you are, your relationship to the patient, and your intention. Adopt a calm and polite—but firm attitude when it comes to asking for information.
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Become a human recording machine. During all medical interactions including doctor appointments, lab procedures, and hospitalizations, write down in as much detail as possible, everything that is said to the patient and done for the patient. If an explanation or instruction goes by before you have had a chance to process it, ask to have it repeated.
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Do extensive research on appropriate medical sites where you can find information written in laymen’s terms. Be prepared to discuss your findings with the doctor; it will help if you have information from well-respected sites. You might start with the National Institute of Health and the Mayo Clinic’s website.
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Monitor all medications to make sure the patient is not only being given the correct medication but the correct dosage, as well. This is important for home care, but particularly during hospitalization. Do not allow medications to be given without asking what the medication being administered is--and for what purpose it’s being given.
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Suggest to the patient that he or she talk to others with the same diagnosis or who have had the surgery he or she is about to undergo. Doctors or their nurses will not give out the phone numbers of their previous patients, but they will often call a patient and ask that person to initiate the contact.
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Find support groups which offer help for the patient’s specific diagnosis. Attend a meeting of such a group on your own at first, and then accompany the patient to further meetings. Many organizations also have organizations for caregivers, as well, and valuable support and information can be gathered at meetings of these groups.
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Prepare the patient as best as you are able for upcoming procedures or surgery by explaining specifically what will be happening and what the patient should expect.
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Keep family members informed about the patient’s condition. Coordinate visits of family members and friends so that everyone does not show up at once. Respond for offers of help with specific requests. For example: “Yes, it would be helpful if you could be here from 5:00 to 7:00 tomorrow.”
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Stay on top of insurance paperwork as much as possible. Familiarize yourself with the specifics of the particular health insurance policy.
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