By Monique Wooley
Patient advocacy is a vital component in today’s healthcare systems, ensuring that patients receive the quality of care in a fast paced, limited staffed environment.
Patient advocates play a crucial role in supporting patients by navigating the ever changing healthcare system, and promoting patient rights.
Most of us have family, friends or neighbors who are struggling with health concerns but unsure how to approach getting them the right help needed.
I’d like to take this opportunity to explore the importance of patient advocacy, its benefits, and how it can be implemented in healthcare settings without missing the mark of caring for others.
Patient advocacy is the process of supporting, while encouraging patients to take an active role in their healthcare. Patient advocates work with patients, families, and healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive compassionate, respectful, and individualized care. Patient advocacy is composed of various aspects.
Below are key elements of an Advocates roll:
- Supporting the patient in making informed decisions about their care
- Ensuring the patients rights, privacy and dignity are respected
- Facilitating communication between the patient and healthcare providers
- Helping the patient navigate the healthcare system and online portal
- Providing emotional support and counseling where necessary
Patient advocacy also has many benefits, including:
- Improving patient confidence and experience
- Promotes patient engagement and empowerment
- Better health outcomes and reduced medical errors
- Increased patient safety and reduced readmissions
- Improving communication and collaboration among healthcare providers
- Support for patients with acute or chronic conditions (regardless of their social or economic status)
Patient advocacy can be categorized into three main types:
- Individual advocacy: Supporting individual patients and their families
- Systemic advocacy: Addressing broader healthcare issues and policies
- Professional advocacy: Promoting patient-centered care and best practices among healthcare providers
Healthcare organizations can also implement patient advocacy in various ways. Below are a few examples:
- Establishing patient advocacy programs
- Encouraging patient feedback and complaints
- Collaborating with patient advocacy organizations and communities
- Lastly, but more importantly, Training Providers in the importance of Continuity of Care for all patients with the same level of compassion
Recapitulation:
Patient advocacy is essential for delivering focused, quality, patient-centered care. By supporting patients, promoting their rights, and improving communication.
Healthcare organizations must prioritize patient advocacy and implement strategies to empower patients without missing the mark on consistently improving the quality of care for all.
Together, we can create a healthcare system that truly puts patients first.
If you are interested in becoming a Patient Advocate, and would like information on how to get started, contact me at LitLogistix@gmail.com
