Spotlight: Patient Advocates & How They Can Help You in the Hospital
A patient advocate (also known as a
patient representative) is a member of the hospital staff who serves as a liaison between the patient, family, physicians and other hospital staff. They can help resolve many problems and conflicts which are experienced by patients and families; for example, challenging communication issues, plans for current and continued care, pain and other symptom management and visitation concerns. Issues involving end of life care and decisions and alleged discrimination can also be addressed. A patient advocate may also be helpful in helping a patient virtually attend important social events such as a graduation, birthday party, or wedding and may even help to plan or coordinate such events. There is no charge to patients for speaking with a patient advocate.
Identifying the hospital patient advocate may not be easy, so consider calling the hospital operator or asking a nurse, receptionist, or hospital chaplain. Keep in mind that if issues arise during a hospital stay the hospital patient advocate can be helpful. But, remember too that the patient advocate is employed by the hospital so that major issues or disputes may require legal assistance or possibly help from an independent patient advocate.
Earlier this year, the New York Times published
an article on patient advocates, and the role they played in helping the author ensure her father and stepmother (both hospitalized) could be with each other at the end of life. You can
read it here.
The websites of
The Patient Advocate Foundation and their advocacy affiliate,
The National Patient Advocacy Foundation, have additional helpful information on patient advocates and their services.