A patient advocate’s job is to support a patient who is going through medical treatment in many ways. They will help to navigate the insurance system, help patients understand medication and treatment options, and help to keep track of procedures and medications that the patient has utilized. Many times, a patient advocate will be required to interact with the insurance company on the patient’s behalf to ensure that insurance coverage is both fully provided and fully understood by the patient. This can mean explaining medical bills to the patient so that they understand their financial responsibilities as well as helping them to locate resources to assist in the fulfillment of those responsibilities, such as charitable funds allocated by the healthcare organization for low-income patients and state and federal funding. Sometimes, a patient advocate will help patients and their families to understand treatment options and end-of-life care options. This position may involve a lot of emotional support for patients whose support systems are lacking. Patient advocates may accompany patients to appointments for practitioner visits as well as laboratory and imaging procedures and may be tasked with taking notes and asking questions on behalf of the patient. It is the responsibility of both the provider and the patient advocate to ensure that the patient understands they are options during the visit and afterwards.

Patient Advocate Vs. Patient Navigator

If a patient advocate is hired by the patient or their family as an outside representative, what about those who help patients from within an organization? A patient navigator is an employee of a medical organization who works with patients to help them schedule appointments and services and use them effectively. The navigator will also help patients understand diagnoses and treatment options for more effective decision-making. For many patients, the navigator is easier to reach than their physician for questions regarding medications or complex information about their prognosis (Adler, 2012).

Possibilities in the Field of Patient Advocate

As a patient advocate, you will be given the opportunity to touch many lives like those of your patients and of their family members in a profound way. Many families do not understand or cannot navigate healthcare systems, due to financial or time constraints or language barriers, and having a patient advocate allows them to make more informed decisions and spend more time with their loved ones in medical crises or during end of life care. Families may find the presence of a patient advocate to be a wonderful gift during a time of great confusion and loss and for this reason, many patient advocates are individuals who have been on the receiving end of this care and become inspired to help others.

Patient advocates may work independently,or for nonprofit organizations that contract with patients directly. Depending upon the employer and the structure of the business, patient advocates may have different roles. The purpose of the patient advocate is to always put the patient’s needs first to ensure that they are receiving the healthcare and concern to which they are entitled as a consumer of the organization’s services.

Patient advocates may have previous experience as an RN or as a social worker and their education may range from an associate’s degree to a master’s degree in the fields of sociology, social work, nursing, or health information. Certification programs are also available to help future patient advocates understand the role of the position within various healthcare organizations and clinical facilities such as assisted living or nursing homes.

In some cases, people who began their career in nursing may decide to become a patient advocate in order to further their dream of helping patients navigate through the healthcare system. In their previous role as a nurse, they may not have had the time or resources to help patients as much as they would like. In other instances, patient advocates enter their career immediately after earning their first degree and continue to seek education as a tool to provide more for their clients.