What Does a Patient Health Advocate Do?
Patient Advocacy – What is it – what does a patient health advocate do? Professional patient health advocates are trained in many aspects of facilitation for your health and wellness. Advocates also specialize in various skills and services, which can include the following:
- help you learn more about your medical condition and treatment options
- help you make difficult medical decisions
- help you maintain a healthy pregnancy and raise healthy babies by working with a midwife, doula or lactation specialist
- teach you pain management techniques
- accompany you to medical appointments or stay by your bedside in the hospital
- help you navigate the insurance maze
- help you file health insurance claims, dispute denials, and manage or reduce your hospital and medical bills
- help your family come to agreement on decisions that need to be made for a loved one who needs health-related assistance
- find legal assistance after a medical error
- track paperwork and records
- help you file for social security disability or other assistance
- .. or help with many additional services, too.
Patient Advocacy and Navigation Services » Medical / Navigational Assistance and Case Management
- Diagnosis and treatment – review of recommendations and options, assistance with decision-making
- Background research: diagnosis and/or treatment options
- Records review and discussion
- Preparation for appointments
- Accompaniment to appointments
- Hospital bedside monitoring
- Pain Management and Palliative Care Consulting
- Healthcare proxy and advance directive assistance
- Caregiver support
- Guardianship or Conservatorship Services
Medical Billing / Health Insurance / Medicare / Payer Assistance
- Medical bill reviews and reconciliation
- Helping you choose the right health insurance plan or payer for you
- Filing and tracking medical bill paperwork and payments
- Negotiations: disputes, denials of claims, and appeals, for hospital bills or other medical billing
- Medicare or Medicaid recommendations and decision-making (Advantage Plans, Medigap, others)
Home Health and Eldercare Services
- In-home nursing care
- Home therapy and rehabilitation
- Daily living assistance
- Assisted living and nursing home recommendations
- Pain Management
- Hospice services
- End of life planning including advance directives
End of Life Planning Services
- In-home nursing care
- Home therapy and rehabilitation
- Daily living assistance
- Assisted living and nursing home recommendations
- Hospice and palliative care services
» Shared Decision Making » Pain Management and Palliative Care Consulting » Mental Health / Substance Abuse Services » Dental Advocacy
- Decision-making for dental health needs
- Review and negotiation of dentist bills
Pregnancy, Birth and Pediatric Assistance
- Midwife or doula services including home and water birthing
- Lactation consulting
- Birth coaching
- Lamaze technique training
Mediation Assistance for Family Health Matters
- When difficult health-related decisions need to be made for a loved one, including family disputes (moving a parent into a nursing home, choosing an out-of-town treatment facility, and others)
Legal or Fiduciary Assistance (Medical / Healthcare Related)
- Worker’s Compensation assistance
- Disability filings and review including Social Security Disability
- Malpractice and medical error review
- Guardianship or Conservatorship services
Prevention Services
- Pain Management
- Drug reviews
- Health and wellness planning
- Weight Loss
- Health Education
- Prevention resources
- Find an appropriate provider or practitioner
- RETURN TO NIWH PATIENT ADVOCACY PAGE
