Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
July 5, 2012 Page B7
Independent private patient advocates
A
re you or someone you know
the one out of the three
people that research indicates
are affected by hospital medical errors?
Health care misdiagnoses, improper
care and/or lack of priority for the best
care available are common scenarios
that can be
managed.
Guest
Columnist
Other problem areas that
people in need
of care experience:
• Returning
from a doctor’s
appointment
wishing they
had asked more
questions yet
were overMary
whelmed with
medical jargon
Harris
or intimidated
by the doctor‘s
status during the appointment.
• Not pursuing additional opinions
on a recent diagnosis.
• Receiving medical bills that are
not only confusing but also incorrect
for services performed.
• Insurance coverage denial for
medical procedures or treatment plans
that they need.
Unfortunately, these are very common situations in the current and
foreseeable future of the stressed U.S.
health care system. These overwhelming and frustrating encounters have
created a demand in the health care
industry for independent patient
advocates. There is a growing need for
people to be professionally represented
and take a proactive role in managing
their health to prevent incomplete or
improper care, reduce denial of coverage and/or incorrect billings. Independent patient advocates or personal
health advocates help to manage the
health care process for individuals and
families.
Currently, there are several hundred private patient advocates in the
U.S. and the number is growing to
ramp up to demand. Unlike professionals who are termed as patient advocates on staff at a hospital or insurance company, an independent and
private patient advocate is not affiliated with or paid by a potential conflict
of interest organization. A private patient advocate is typically paid directly
by the individual or the family to help
find and decide on the best options to
prevent a crisis and/or manage a care
situation with their client’s interest as
the priority.
When someone is hospitalized there
are many serious and sometimes fatal
situations that can arise if a patient
does not at least have a dedicated and
qualified friend or family member
carefully managing their care. Many
families do not have this, and the differences in diagnoses, treatments and
care can be significant. Some examples
of this:
• Incorrect medications/dosages
cause 7,000 deaths annually.
• Hospital-acquired infections affect
one out of every 10 patients.
• Unnecessary falls in the hospital
occur frequently.
• Transitioning from a hospital to a
residential setting introduces another
level of complications that can be
avoided with effective communication
during the discharge process.
What are some specific tasks that
you may want to hire a patient advocate to do for you or your family?
• Help you prepare for a doctor’s
appointment and/or participate with
you during the appointment.
• Provide care coordination between
your multiple providers during your
illness.
• Help you find experts in your area
of need.
• Help you identify and prioritize
your care options.
• Advise you on treatment options,
home care services and insurance issues.
• Improve communication between
medical providers and family members
to ensure that appropriate actions are
being taken in a timely manner.
• Assist you in deciphering and
negotiating your medical bills.
• Research new drugs, treatments
and clinical trials.
• Provide hospital bedside companion service.
• Assist you in hiring and managing
in-home caregivers.
Patient advocates at their best are
problem solvers and project managers who strive to provide their clients
with the knowledge they need to make
timely, informed decisions. Many advocates have backgrounds as individuals
who have learned about the problems
of the system through personal experience, are experts in facilitation/
management and can think outside
the current system’s issues. A patient
advocate typically charges by the hour
for their services. Hourly rates can
range from $60-$300/hour based on
education, training, experience and
skills.
Where can you find a private patient advocate? A good place to start
is through national organizations that
have members listed by geographic
location and expertise. For example,
the National Association of Healthcare
Advocacy Consultants (NAHAC) and
AdvoConnection have websites that offer a directory of members so you can
find an advocate based on your specific
need and location. www.nahac.com and
www.advoconnection.com.
Mary Scroggin-Harris is founder of
Lifelong Wellness Advocates, LLC, a
Colorado-based patient advocacy company. For more information you can
visit www.lifelongwellnessadvocates.
com or call 303-539-6916.