Patient Advocacy Strategies: The Benefits and Their Importance

When a patient puts their lives into the hands of healthcare providers or a health facility, they expect the best outcome. However, this does not always happen. The rights of patients get violated from time to time. Patient advocacy strategies help advocate for patients' rights and help them navigate the healthcare system.

What Is Patient Advocacy?

Patient advocacy is the way in which individuals or healthcare professionals support or promote various healthcare systems. These people speak on behalf of patients who are not able to speak for themselves. Advocating for patients involves collaborating with different bodies, such as legal representatives, doctors, or key decision-makers, to make important decisions and solve various challenges that patients may experience. Advocates help patients by:

• Committing to patient healthcare
• Offering equal treatment to their patients
• Preventing suffering
• Protecting patients rights
• Respecting the dignity of patients

Patient advocacy programs ensure patients get the best treatment whenever they need it. It also ensures their rights are protected at all times. Generally, advocacy programs ensure the safety and welfare of patients and their communities.

Types of Patient Advocacy Strategies

There are a few different types of patient advocacy strategies, including:

Medical Facility Advocacy

When patients seek treatment in a medical facility, they need someone to take care of their needs and offer the best treatment options. Patient advocates can act on behalf of the patient and be a link to the doctor or the facility. They'll ensure patients receive an accurate diagnosis, clear instructions, and the best care.

Family Advocacy

Advocates educate patients' families about the needs of the patient and the kind of care they need. They can help solve disputes or misunderstandings between the patient and the family members. Additionally, advocates can help family members seek the best treatment for their loved ones.

Legal System Advocacy

Advocacy strategies can help advocate for the patient by ensuring they receive the treatment required without breaking the law. They'll represent the patients in legal ways to ensure their rights are considered in everything aspect of their treatment.

How Patient Advocates Help in Navigating the Healthcare System

Healthcare systems are becoming more complex, and even the most informed patients can have a difficult time keeping track of treatment, getting the right medication, and ensuring no one breaks their rights. Patient advocates help relieve patients of this burden and ensure they navigate the healthcare system with ease.

With the help of health advocates, patients and their families will have an easy time getting the assistance they need. Some ways patient advocates help with navigating the healthcare system include

• Helping patients get access to healthcare needs
• Educating patients about their rights
• Ensuring patients make informed decisions regarding their health and that of their loved ones
• Explaining different phenomena, including insurance, medical care, and administrative and legal tasks

Benefits of Patient Advocacy for Both Patients and Providers

Here are some of the benefits that both patients and providers get from patient advocacy strategies:

Advocates Empower Patients In Complex Healthcare Systems

Healthcare advocates help navigate the needs of patients in complex healthcare systems, ensuring they get the best care. They support patients by responding to their needs, ensuring optimized healthcare delivery, and improving safety.

Through advocates, patients receive quality care which improves engagement with healthcare facilities. According to a 2019 report on healthcare advocacy, the programs help improve quality outcomes, enhance the patient experience, and create cost-saving efficiencies.

Addresses Communication Challenges

Some patients don't get the best medical care due to various communication challenges. Advocates help explain health information to patients to ensure they're on the same page with their healthcare providers. They minimize any communication gap that may arrive between patients and healthcare professionals, improving overall health outcomes.

Help In Understanding The Healthcare Policy

Medical professionals and facilities act according to set standards and policies. These policies ensure patients receive safe, equitable, and quality care. The policies also focus on safety regulations, legal liabilities, and regulations. When patients understand the healthcare policy, they know what to expect from healthcare professionals and act in an acceptable manner.

How Patient Advocates Help in Navigating the Healthcare System

Healthcare systems are becoming more complex, and even the most informed patients can have a difficult time keeping track of treatment, getting the right medication, and ensuring no one breaks their rights. Patient advocates help relieve patients of this burden and ensure they navigate the healthcare system with ease.

With the help of health advocates, patients and their families will have an easy time getting the assistance they need. Some ways patient advocates help with navigating the healthcare system include:

• Helping patients get access to healthcare needs
• Educating patients about their rights 
• Ensuring patients make informed decisions regarding their health and that of their loved ones
• Explaining different phenomena, including insurance, medical care, and administrative and legal tasks

Benefits of Patient Advocacy for Both Patients and Providers

Here are some of the benefits that both patients and providers get from patient advocacy strategies:

Advocates Empower Patients In Complex Healthcare Systems

Healthcare advocates help navigate the needs of patients in complex healthcare systems, ensuring they get the best care. They support patients by responding to their needs, ensuring optimized healthcare delivery, and improving safety.

Through advocates, patients receive quality care which improves engagement with healthcare facilities. According to a 2019 report on healthcare advocacy, the programs help improve quality outcomes, enhance the patient experience, and create cost-saving efficiencies.

Addresses Communication Challenges

Some patients don't get the best medical care due to various communication challenges. Advocates help explain health information to patients to ensure they're on the same page with their healthcare providers. They minimize any communication gap that may arrive between patients and healthcare professionals, improving overall health outcomes

Help In Understanding The Healthcare Policy

Medical professionals and facilities act according to set standards and policies. These policies ensure patients receive safe, equitable, and quality care. The policies also focus on safety regulations, legal liabilities, and regulations. When patients understand the healthcare policy, they know what to expect from healthcare professionals and act in an acceptable manner.

Examples of Successful Patient Advocacy Initiatives

First Example: Anxious Patient

A patient who has never been to a hospital gets her first oncologist appointment after a cancer diagnosis. As a result, they are anxious about their health and upcoming treatment.

A patient advocate helps such a patient by responding positively to all their queries. Inform the patient about her options, help them keep their records, and refer reliable resources that can help the patient learn about their diagnosis.

Second Example: Emergency Room Patient

A patient suffers a severe accident and ends up in an emergency room at a local health facility. Advocates can help this patient by listening to their concerns and ensuring they get appropriate pain management. They will relay relevant information to the doctor about the patient and support the patient's requests concerning medical care.

Summary Of Patient Advocacy Services

Patient advocacy strategies not only help patients get safe and quality medical care, but it also helps improve the overall health experience. Advocacy programs help patients understand how healthcare professionals and facilities work. This improves communication and enhances the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals. When patients and healthcare professionals understand each other and collaborate, they help bring out the best healthcare outcome.

If you want to learn more about patient advocacy programs, Thoughtful Care is here to help. Contact us today for more information.