Working With a Patient Advocate

In this episode, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos define exactly how nurse patient advocates are able to help patients and their families navigate healthcare. Through their independent company, Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, they are able to provide assistance that is truly independent and not tied to or bound by a particular hospital, clinic, or insurance company’s rules. The care they offer untangles complex medications, assists with daunting decisions, ensures doctors and hospitals thoroughly address patient needs, and keeps families in the loop on everything to do with healthcare.Pam and Linda each share a personal story of how their individual advocacy for a past client assisted in their long-term recovery and care. Families who live out of state or overseas have entrusted the care of their loved one to Pam or Linda, and through regular calls and conversations, have been kept up-to-date on every doctor consultation, medication change, hospitalization, and have had necessary assistance in arranging hospice, at-home care or a move to a senior living community. They emphasize how official reports - from the Patient Advocate Foundation Annual Impact Report to the President’s Cancer Panel from 2024 - have stated that nurse advocates improve quality of care, reduce readmission rates, improve medication safety, and increase both health outcomes for patients and reduce stress for family caregivers.   References Cited in This Episode:2024 Patient Advocate Foundation Annual Impact ReportThe President's Cancer Panel 2024 ReportPMC 11526257 2024JMIR Medical Informatics 2024Resources Mentioned in This Episode: “11 Signs Your Aging Parents May Need Help in the Home” free resource checklistSchedule A Free 30-Minute Call—Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting: Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting—