Patient Advocate And The Significance Of Their Service

By Arline Bradley


These individuals are primarily concerned with the care of patients and whether they have got sufficient knowledge about health plans. Patient advocate is a role that can be played by an individual or also by an organization that specializes in these services.

Advocates links the patients and the health care provider. Most of the people doing these jobs normally have some experience when it comes to health care or even social work. They may be doctors or nurses. The field of nursing has given advocacy some special attention when it comes to training.This advocacy is an important field when covering nursing ethics.

Advocacy may entail simple responsibilities such as overseeing the transport of patients and supervising their transfer into nursing homes.

There is really no special licensing or accredited certification required to be in this field. However, institutions such as universities and colleges are offering simple training to those individuals wishing to engage in these roles. They organize workshops and some even offer certificates. Advocates are obliged to follow important legislation, rules that have been established and other requirements that have been stipulated. This means that they are individually responsible for educating themselves on these issues and the basic business of medicine.

This advocacy entails playing an extremely important role when it comes to communication. He or she has to ensure that the client is fully informed on the requirements of the health provider such as the various stipulated rules and procedures. He maintains that the health care provider has all the vital medical information concerning the client. He or She links the two and therefore ensuring that the client does not undergo any unnecessary strain or anxiety hence speeding up the recovery process.

It involves taking up important duties such; ensuring the patient and his or her family has access to relevant medical materials that have been published, keeping family members, health provider and any other relevant person informed, ensure recording and treatment is done correctly, ensure resolution of disputes on behalf of the client and protect confidential information.

Advocates a times sit on investigative and advisory panels of organizations that deal with different aspects of health care to ensure that decisions adopted safeguard and impact positively on the lives of their clients. They seek adoption of best practices in dealing with health care matters. Various government offices have established an office that specifically deals with matters of patient advocacy. Complains about the advocate or the health care provider or any conflict on health care for example with the insurance company may be solved here.

In taking care of the patient, he or she must always ensure that he or she does not get too much attached with the former to an extent of affecting his or her work. The latter must be supportive and believe in the client. At times one has to act as spokesperson. Therefore the best person for the job must be caring and possess many more personal skills. A spouse, chaplain or even family members may play this role.




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