Learn what healthcare advocates do

A lot of people have written some great content on a variety of subjects you may find useful. So, rather than recreate the wheel, I will just refer you to their sites or to particular articles I think are relevant. The list will grow, so keep posted.

Brad Schwartz founded Greater National Advocates after he experienced a medical event. He has dedicated himself to spreading the word about patient advocacy in the hopes that others can avoid a life-changing medical error. GNANow.org has a lot of articles about how advocates can help you, as well as specific articles that give you solid advice and a directory of patient advocates throughout the U.S.

Anne Llewellyn is a pioneer in the advocacy field and has a large body of content designed to help people navigate the healthcare system. Visit Anne's blog and look through her posts.

Trisha Torrey is a prolific writer and a long-time advocate. During the course of her advocacy career, she has produced an impressive body of work. She also founded APHA (Association of Professional Health Advocates), one of the industry's foremost and respected organizations.

Deb Gordon is a healthcare consumer champion and author of The Healthcare Manifesto and countless articles that have appeared in publications such as Healthy Women and Forbes Magazine.

Florida Statute 381.026-Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities: It is the purpose of this section to promote the interests and well-being of the patients of health care providers and health care facilities and to promote better communication between the patient and the health care provider. It is the intent of the Legislature that health care providers understand their responsibility to give their patients a general understanding of the procedures to be performed on them and to provide information pertaining to their health care so that they may make decisions in an informed manner after considering the information relating to their condition, the available treatment alternatives, and substantial risks and hazards inherent in the treatments...  

The link below is to the Florida Patient's Bill of Rights, To find the Patient Bill of Rights for your state, search Google for the phrase "patient bill of rights" and include your state at the end, i.e., "patient bill of rights Florida".

PAF offers copious amounts of information to help people navigate the healthcare system. They also provide free case management services at no cost. Please check with PAF to see if their Case Management department can assist you with your problem at no cost. Complete their form online, and they will contact you within 48 hours.

Watch this video for an overview of their Case Management services: https://vimeo.com/711735540/5e3e1e3d71

Patients Rising's patient education and support platform provides direct, personalized access to information and a network of public and nonprofit programs and resources. Here you’ll find reliable, expertly curated information via their learning modules which include traditional content, videos, e-books, webinars, podcasts, and infographics.

The Care Project is dedicated to demystifying health care care with plain language and simple “to do” checklists to help family and friends support their loved ones’ care – with confidence and grace.  

Confused about Medicare? The State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) provide local, in-depth, and objective insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers. Click on the link below (and then click on the SHIP Locator button) to find your local SHIP center and get answers. (For more specifics about avoiding pitfalls in picking a plan and maximizing your benefits, contact Breakaway Health Solutions.)

The Conversation Project® is a public engagement initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Our goal is both simple and transformative: to help everyone talk about their wishes for care through the end of life, so those wishes can be understood and respected.

It’s time to share the way we want to live through the end of our lives. And it’s time to communicate about the kind of care we want and don’t want for ourselves.

We will be adding more resources to help our clients take advantage of free resources and educational materials to empower them to advocate for themselves. If you know of a resource to share, please let us know!