What is a professional patient advocate, and why might you need one?

A professional patient advocate is a trained individual who helps patients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. They assist with understanding medical information, coordinating care, addressing concerns with insurance companies, and ensuring patients' voices are heard by medical staff and care teams. Patient advocates can be particularly helpful when a patient is discharged from the hospital to a rehabilitation center, as they can help clarify questions about insurance coverage, pain medication, and prescription coordination.

The field of patient advocacy has evolved from the Civil Rights Movement's focus on individual rights and protections. In the 1960s, healthcare advocate Ruth Ravich founded the Department of Patient Representation at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, considered the beginning of the patient advocate role. Today, patient advocacy is a standardized role with national standards for skills, ethics, and best practices.

Certification is available through the Patient Advocate Certification Board, which indicates a person has received specific training for the role. Patient advocates work closely with patients and their families, providing an objective perspective and expert knowledge of the healthcare system. They help patients feel more confident in making informed decisions and can alleviate the stress of understanding complex medical bills and insurance coverage.