patient advocates dive masters of health care?

05/01/2023 © by MedSavvy Health Advocates LLC 2015

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Patient Advocates – Dive Masters of Health Care?

How to get professional help

navigating the rough seas of health care.


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Fearless Professional Women

•Strong•Decisive•Take charge

•In Control!


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Except…..Dealing with the Healthcare System


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Most Health Care Encounters

Uncomplicated

Like a child snorkeling in a bathtub.


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When Health Issues Get Complicated = Woman Overboard!

Minus scuba gear, instruction manual, or dive master.


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Who Gets Thrown in as the

Life Preserver?


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Professional WomenBecause we are:•Strong•Decisive•Take charge

•In Control!

Because we “get things done.”


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We’re also Sand wiched……….

between caring for generations of family members ……………..between family and work obligations……between guilt and self-fulfillment.


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Yet we’re the ones who step up to handle medical situations for:

•Ourselves •Spouse •Aging parents •Elderly in-laws•Children and adult offspring•Other extended family members•Close friends


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Where there are too many players and no coordination.Where everyone is left to their own devices.Where it is too easy to get lost or hurt.Where “reform” emphasizes decreasing cost over improving

outcomes.Where even the most intelligent and capable are confused and

overwhelmed.

Only to be Faced with a Sick Care System


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The More Things Change………

Medical Errors

Errors Safe

42%

Over 10 years ago the Institute of Medicine found that medical errors = 100,000 hospital deaths/yr

They also found over 40% of Americans have suffered a medical error for themselves or someone close to them.


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…the More They Stay the Same

and over 80,000 hospital-acquired

infections/year in the U.S.

These statistics have not improved significantly over the past decade.


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This has been healthcare’s answer.

More Services Fewer Primary Care DocsLess time/patient More TreatmentsMore Technology More DrugsLess Communication InsuranceElectronic Medical Records More SpecialistsToo many CHOICES and DECISIONS!

Tool & Info Overload


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Like Scuba DivingLots of wonderful tools


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Information + Tools Knowledge• 86% of 24-65 year olds with healthcare insurance

DID NOT understand traditional health insurance concepts — deductible, copay, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximum

• 89% of people asked were NOT able to compute the cost of a four day hospital stay when given the information that should have enabled them to do so.

-Study reported in Journal of Health Economics, Volume 32, Issue 5, September 2013, Pages 850–862


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Where’s that Instruction Manual?


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Even Better……………..

…where is the dive master? Someone who knows all the ins and outs, how to use the tools. Someone who can navigate for us.


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Navigating the Sick Care System Takes Resources

Time

KnowledgeHealth literacy

Financial literacyPatience

Clear headAbility to detach

Attention to details


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Traditional HelpWe have relied on:

Family and friends Emotional baggage, family dynamics, Limited knowledge of healthcare industry

Employed patient reps and nurse navigators Mixed loyalties (who pays them?) Limited service range


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A Better SolutionIndependent Patient Advocates

Like your own personal dive master showing you the way.


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An Independent Patient AdvocateSomeone who:Supports and promotes patient’s rights. Guides and helps you navigate the healthcare

system. Gives patients a voice, ensuring they are

heard and respected.Makes sure patients get the care they needResolves conflicts


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Services Might IncludeCare coordination and navigationAccompanying to appointmentsLiaison between patient and doctor or other providerDiagnosis and treatment option research and explanationsCoordinating medical records and medicationsHelp preparing advanced directivesAuditing bills and negotiating denied claimsHelp in choosing best insurance coverage…………and much more……………………


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Advantages Independent advocates:Are knowledgeable about healthcare industryAre able to move amongst providers and facilitiesOffer a variety of servicesAnswer only to you, their client/patient


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Benefits (What’s In It For Me)

Save yourself and your “patient” from lost time, frustration, unnecessary

expenses, aggravation, medical errors, and poor quality care.


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No MoreMissed appointmentsMissed treatment opportunitiesMisunderstandings about medications or treatments

EliminateDoubts and second guessing whether your loved one is

getting the best treatment for his/her condition.


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An Advocate Can EnsurePatients get the insurance benefits they

deservePatients don’t pay for things they don’t want,

don’t need, or didn’t receive


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Conclusion – Up Out of the DepthsAn independent patient advocate can

provide you with much-needed help and relief.

Most importantly, they can give both you and your loved one safe haven

and Peace of Mind.


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Where Do You Go From Here?

For more detailed information about independent patient advocates and how to locate and choose one, download this free tipsheet.

http://www.medsavvyhealthadvocates.com/contact-us.html


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MedSavvy Health Advocates LLCLet us guide you through the healthcare maze

www.medsavvyhealthadvocates.com

[email protected](719) 481-6440

Better Savvy Than Sorry Bloghttps://medsavvyhealthadvocates.wordpress.com/

Some images courtesy of Ambro at freedigitalphotos.net and King at Scuba DiverLife.com

http://www.medsavvyhealthadvocates.com/

mailto:[email protected]

https://medsavvyhealthadvocates.wordpress.com/


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Parting Thought

“The world will be saved by the Western women.” – The Dalai Lama

patient advocates dive masters of health care?

Health & Medicine