Mental Illness and Patient Advocacy: Lessons Learned
I am not afraid of mental illness anymore. My years of volunteering on the HelpLine of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) eliminated that fear. Everyone benefits if we discuss mental illness openly, so I would like to share what I...
Taking One for the Team: My COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
Many months ago, I heard AstraZeneca was looking for volunteers for their Covid-19 Phase 3 Clinical Trial and I signed up. At the beginning of October, someone from the A-Z Trial called to see if I was still interested but he warned that the USA...
The Gratification of Integration: RN Patient Advocates at Work
My name is Karen Mercereau, RN, iRNPA, and I have been working with patients as an independent RN Patient Advocate for 18 years now. Amazing experience. I would like to tell you about one of my patients now: The Facts: 65 yo male diagnosed with...
“Ho Ho …(throat clear)…Ho” Don’t Let That Cough Spoil The Holidays!
We are now in the throes of the holiday season, and I’m wishing this finds you well. This is the time of year when we typically attend holiday parties, eat holiday foods, drink holiday drinks, and lose sleep due to the holiday hustle and bustle...
Patient Advocates as Mediators: Where Do We Draw the Line?
As patient advocates, our primary foc us must always be on the needs of our patient/client. This usually requires us to interface with spouses, siblings/children, family and friends, as well as the complex team of providers including physicians...
What Medicare Open Enrollment Means For You
Your mailbox is flooded with literature urging you to sign up for a different Medicare plan. Your insurance company has sent its annual notice, telling you about the changes in your policy for 2021. And your head is spinning, because you don’t...
Open Enrollment Season is Here: What To Know
Between the pandemic and the election, we are all more concerned about our health insurance than ever before. The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). In addition...
TeleAdvocacy During COVID-19: A Case Study
Efforts to control the spread of the virus have forced hospitals to severely limit access to patients once admitted. This is true whether or not the patient has been infected by the virus. Overworked staff barely keep their head above water just...
Health For The Holidays: 'Tis The Season For Patient Advocacy
The holiday season has officially begun and people all over the world have started preparing for Christmas. It is a magical time of year, filled with holiday get-togethers, hot cocoa, baking, tree-lightings, shopping, and other festivities. While...
Are You Where You Want To Be With Your Diabetes?
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. In America today, almost everyone knows at least one person who has diabetes. The Center for Disease Control informs us that 34.2 million Americans have diabetes and 88 million adult Americans have pre...
Cholangiocarcinoma: Ask the Questions
Hopefully, you have been fortunate enough to never have heard the word “cholangiocarcinoma” come from the lips of a doctor or a loved one. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same… What in the world is Cholangiocarcinoma? Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare...
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The American Cancer Association reports that aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women. In 2020, over 325,000 new cases of breast cancer in the US are expected to be diagnosed in women. In the U.S.,1 of...
Knowing When to Change a Medicare Advantage Plan
If you hire a patient advocate they will want to know what insurance you have and help you take advantage of all the features available that might help you in your situation or help you find insurance that is a better fit. Reasons to change your...
Getting Around Insurance Coverage Roadblocks
It’s complicated and it can be frustrating. Fortunately, as these examples and suggestions illustrate, there are many things you can do to gain control and reduce worry. Consider these three recent client examples… #1. Mr. Smith He has significant...
Rare Disorder or Misdiagnosed? How an Independent Patient Advocate Can Help
Perhaps you are given a diagnosis that just doesn’t seem right for you. Perhaps your symptoms don’t add up to what your healthcare provider told you. Or...maybe you were diagnosed with a rare disease and not offered much in the form of treatment...