Healthcare in the United States is dysfunctional and deteriorating. Here are only a few reasons why:
-Of the $3 trillion spent annually on healthcare, $1 trillion is wasted; -Many doctors provide too much unnecessary treatment; -Providers are paid for quantity of care as opposed to quality of care; -Healthcare costs are skyrocketing for everyone; and -Many patients are unaware of their rights and responsibilities within the healthcare system.
Many individuals accept subpar care from their healthcare providers when they should not. If you requested a cheeseburger but received a hamburger, would you not return it? Utilise the same strategy in your healthcare? Perhaps not. You are not alone, as the majority do not.
Have you ever had an unpleasant or aggravating experience at a doctor’s office or hospital? Had problems with your bills? Have you ever left a doctor’s office feeling confused? Many people experience this daily. I’m here to inform you that you are not obligated to accept subpar treatment.
Advocacy is a patient-centered approach that can resolve many of the ills of American healthcare delivery, such as wasteful expenditure and inefficiency.
Twenty years as a social worker in a variety of healthcare settings has afforded me the opportunity to observe what happens to those who are uninformed or do not know what to say, do, or ask. Frequently, negative outcomes were avoidable.
What is the definition of patient advocacy?
This involves advocating for the fulfilment of a patient’s requirements and desires throughout their healthcare journey. This could involve communicating with physicians on behalf of a patient, facilitating communication between healthcare providers, supporting a patient’s end-of-life wishes, rectifying an incorrect bill, assisting with insurance claims, and many other tasks.
Advocates may also concentrate on accounting, insurance claims and appeals, specific maladies (cancer, Alzheimer’s, stroke), or obtaining and maintaining quality care (as I do). In healthcare facilities, professionals such as hospital advocates, patient navigators, and nurse navigators assist patients with their requirements while they are hospitalised.
If you employ a private advocate (one with no corporate or non-profit interests) and pay them directly, it is their responsibility to fight for your best interests. If you want to know where the allegiance of any advocate lies, you must determine where their income originates from. It is not always favourable for the patient.
As the government has not regulated our profession, insurance does not cover advocacy (so private advocates must be paid privately). Consequently, anyone, including my sixth-grader, can claim to be an advocate regardless of their level of experience. Before hiring someone, verify their education, talents, and experience. Ensure that they meet your particular requirements.
In the field of advocacy, intelligence cannot replace experience. Many intelligent individuals have sought my assistance because they did not know how to manage their healthcare situations, with some having made matters worse. They alienated healthcare providers or were branded “troublemakers.” Communication between families and providers ceases, which is a terrible circumstance that is detrimental to the patient’s interests. Advocates can assist you in this situation and many others, depending on their area of expertise.
The healthcare industry is a business, and you are a client. Additionally, you are accountable for your own healthcare. Patients must take care of themselves and follow a provider’s instructions, as they are the healthcare experts. However, patients have the right to query any proposed medication, test, or procedure. Patients must take responsibility for their health, as they are the foremost authority on themselves. One cannot anticipate a miraculous cure for their body after abusing alcohol and tobacco.
A competent private advocate can show you how to use the healthcare system correctly, sparing you time, money, and aggravation in the process.
In addition to individuals and families, corporations and non-profits can save money by hiring an advocate. It will demonstrate to their employees (particularly those who are carers or who have chronic ailments) that there is a more efficient way to receive medical care, and it may address problems that can increase productivity!
The advantages of engaging an advocate can be incalculable. Let someone assist you with the economic side of healthcare, so you can focus on your most essential role: being a patient.
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