Greater National Advocates Blog

Question: If you have a legal issue, do you go directly to a judge? In most cases no, you hire an attorney, a trusted advisor that knows the legal system. If you want to invest, do you go directly to the stock market? In most cases no, you hire a...

Perseverance, the secret of all triumphs. Victor Hugo I recently heard discussed in a webinar on succeeding in business. A compiled definition: perseverance is a steady, persistent effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, obstacles...

I got the phone call that all parents dread. “Mom, Matt was in a serious car accident on his way home.” I tried to call the hospital half-way across the country to find out what happened to my youngest son. No one would talk to me. They wouldn’t...

Aging Alone. We all know someone who is aging and wants to remain independent in their own home. Many in this growing population are finding themselves aging alone without the support of adult children, spouse, relatives, or friends. Studies have...

When we think of ‘Advance Directives’, most of us prefer to put it off for another day. “I’ll get to it later.” we say to ourselves. But what if the emergency happened today and there wasn’t time to prepare? What is important to you? Does anyone...

Not long ago, I was chatting with a special teenager in my life. As we talked, he asked, “What do you do for work?” I knew he had medical issues that required some specialist care, and so I said that I help people to talk with their doctor. I was...

I’m a nurse, turned patient safety advocate. And I want to let you in on one of the best-kept secrets many of us in this field have learned as we help patients navigate our complex healthcare system. But before I do that, I want to introduce you...

What is the alphabet soup of health spending accounts? There are FSA’s, HRA’s, and HSA’s. What are they? Which one do you have and which one do you need? Today we are going to simplify these accounts to better understand each one and which one you...

The TakeCharge Campaign is a public awareness campaign that has significant potential to improve patient outcomes by encouraging people to become active participants in their healthcare by following these 5 Steps. Now, in it's second year, The...

Do you want your medical situation to choose you? If you ignore signs and symptoms, you may find that is the case.I want to share a story about someone who didn't know he had an issue. A client of mine told me they ignored their persistent...

The COVID-19 pandemic has given me a gift this winter: spending more time with my parents. We decided they would stay in Rhode Island, rather than spending the October-May timeframe in Florida, as they usually do. Having my parents nearby this...

Many people are not yet familiar with a patient advocate, let alone a board-certified patient advocate. In addition, you may have heard of hospitals or insurance companies offering a patient advocate. So what’s the difference? And why do you need...

What to do? Is it Right for you? Yes, Please! The emergence of the COVID-19 vaccine comes with a lot of mixed emotions. Some view it as a cure to this long pandemic-driven quarantine and the first step toward some sense of normality, with hopes to...

As I was reading my Facebook page, I saw a post from a friend that said: “I won’t be able to get my MRI until the end of next week. I’m pissed.” This message alerted me to call a friend who needed a Patient Advocate. Here's a real-life example of...

While working with clients who are newly enrolled in Medicare or accessing health insurance via the Open Market and/or from employers, we identified common themes in the advice we offer. I share those themes below, in the hope that it will get...