• How will having a Patient Advocate help me?

  A patient advocate can help you organize your medical history, medication list, physician list and advance directives. You can then bring this important information with you to doctor appointments or an unexpected trip to the hospital. Your patient advocate can meet you at any facility and serve as an extra set of “ears” as clinicians explain medical diagnoses, treatment options and/or new medications. Your advocate has the necessary clinical knowledge to ask questions which you may not know to ask, allowing you to better understand what is going on with your health so that you can make more informed decisions. Your advocate can also research those medical diagnoses, treatment options and medications to provide you with more information.

• How do you charge for services?

I charge an hourly rate for my patient advocate services. The scope of my needed services is assessed at our initial visit, and we will both sign a contract outlining the estimated time and cost to complete the work as well as an anticipated end date. That contract can always be renewed if necessary. Patient advocate services are not covered by insurance. You must decide the true value of these services to you personally.

• Will my health information be kept confidential?

Once you have signed the necessary forms allowing medical providers to share your health information with me, I will fully protect that information and only use it to assist you with those providers and related billing. Should you wish for me to share any of your information with a particular family member, I will only do so after you have given me specific written permission.

• Will you be able to provide nursing care if needed?

The role of a patient advocate is to provide you with the necessary information and support you need in order to understand matters regarding your health. I am able to competently assist you with this because of my many years as an RN. A Board Certified Patient Advocate is not allowed to render medical care in any way, no matter what their clinical licensure. My role is to help get you any and all assistance that you need, including calling 911 should an emergency arise.

• Can you provide transportation to my medical appointments?

  I am not permitted to transport you to any appointments in my vehicle; however, I will assist you in arranging transportation service should the need arise. When I attend medical appointments with you, I will meet you at those appointments.