Greater National Advocates Blog

It never ceases to amaze me that some people do not realize they have the absolute right to make their own healthcare choices even if everyone else thinks it’s the wrong choice. Once they recognize that every medical option is theirs to accept or...

You love having a day off work, and on occasion, it's unplanned, such as a weather day, technical problems, or taking care of a sick child. However, when it becomes a personal health issue, you may not enjoy hearing the words: "you need to stay...

We have many older adult clients (defined as those over the age of 80) who began working with us 10-15 years ago. At this point, we have taught them and their family members to pay close attention to subtle changes in health status and to notify...

I thoroughly enjoy mentoring young professionals. When I do, I emphasize the power of networking and suggest they identify approaches for staying in touch with fabulous people they meet along the way. This newsletter, Healthassist News, is an...

As a nurse advocate, I recently returned to taking clients on in my practice. My role is to help coordinate care, break down barriers, and find the resources my patients need to address their healthcare needs. I work with all members of the...

Editors Note: This is a guest blog by Anthony Cirillo that was originally published on July 2, 2021 on sixtyandme.com/maximizing-cognitive-capability-dementia. You can learn more about Anthony and Carol Amos, who is the subject of this blog, at...

Editor's note: This is part 6 in a series of introspective blogs written by Antra Boyd, iRNPA detailing her personal journey as an Independent Patient Advocate and recurrent ovarian cancer patient. You didn’t think I was going to skip “the bottom...

Editor's note: This is part 5 in a series of introspective blogs written by Antra Boyd, iRNPA detailing her personal journey as an Independent Patient Advocate and recurrent ovarian cancer patient. I am in Colorado. I jumped right off the plane...

Editor's note: This is part 4 in a series of introspective blogs written by Antra Boyd, iRNPA detailing her personal journey as an Independent Patient Advocate and recurrent ovarian cancer patient. I had a pelvis and abdominal MRI in one sitting...

Editor's note: This is part 3 in a series of introspective blogs written by Antra Boyd, iRNPA detailing her personal journey as an Independent Patient Advocate and recurrent ovarian cancer patient. I got a second opinion. It surprised me. The...

Has ANYONE ever looked at an EOB (Explanation of Benefits) and thought “oh, this is easy to understand?” I bet very few people would say that. EOBs are definitely not written in plain language. There are codes, there are a bunch of numbers in...

Editor's note: This is part 2 in a series of introspective blogs written by Antra Boyd, iRNPA detailing her personal journey as an Independent Patient Advocate and recurrent ovarian cancer patient. It’s called “Scanxiety” when you get really...

Editor's note: This is part 1 in a series of introspective blogs written by Antra Boyd, iRNPA detailing her personal journey as an Independent Patient Advocate and recurrent ovarian cancer patient. It was my first visit to my gyn/onc in six months...

Have you or someone you know been hospitalized and discharged with a poor understanding of the follow-up care plan? Have you ever left a hospital without a clear understanding of why specific procedures occurred in the first place? A recent client...

We start with a crisis. Blood sugars are high and out of control. Panic sets in. Frantically searching for answers provides a temporary solution. You relax and return to “normal” until the cycle repeats itself again. I had a client who kept...