Why do You Need a Patient Advocate?

This is a question medical providers often ask and the reasons are many.

I was recently hired by a new client, an educated woman who had done an extensive amount of research about her medical condition but realized that having extra ears and someone not "emotionally" vested in her condition was a good idea.  We discussed her condition and made a plan for a telemedicine appointment with a new physician; before the visit, we discussed the goals, what she hoped to gain from the visit, and reworked the questions numerous times to achieve her goals.  The objectives were to determine if she needed an invasive procedure, if so, when it would need to be performed, and what would happen if she did nothing.  The physician's first question was, "why do you need an advocate?"  This is a question I also ask my clients. "Is the patient mentally stable; can they make their own decisions?" Or are they doing due diligence and realizing that it is vital to have another set of ears (she had no friends or family available) and someone to take notes. 

The reality is, we ALL need an advocate, be it a paid professional, a family member, or a friend who understands what you need, understands the health care system, and is willing to put your best interests first.  It is not a sign of weakness or does not have to be terribly expensive.  It may be the best amount of money you have ever spent. As we say, "don't knock it until you try it."