Greater National Advocates Blog

When I tell people I'm a patient advocate, they smile and say, that's nice! But…what is that? Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed with information and questions regarding your healthcare? You are not alone. Two common scenarios arise...

Home deaths are challenging yet fulfilling life experiences. Perhaps our family's story can enlighten & provide inspiration to yours. First, a few thoughts to share in foreword… In 2015, both my Dad (and then my Mom 11 months later...

Are You Engaged? The era of “the doctor knows best” is over. No more walking into a medical appointment hoping to be told what to do with no questions asked. Do you suppose there’s a reason patients historically agree with a doctor’s...

Perhaps you or a loved one just got diagnosed with the dreaded “C” word. Or perhaps you have been battling cancer and the treatment is just not working or not tolerable. There are lots of possible options and it is your right to know about them...

Are You Engaged? I’ve got news for you. The era of “The doctor knows best” is long overdue. No more walking into a doctor’s appointment to be told what to do with no questions asked. Do you suppose that there is a reason patients so readily agree...

We kept encountering the same scenario over and over again, like Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day. Patient after patient and family after family play a guessing game with what their loved one would have wanted while they're in the ICU with Covid-19...

People are surprised to learn there is often conflict when a loved one is in hospice. Unfortunately, some disputes do not cease when people are near death. On the contrary, family members can become more entrenched in their positions creating...

Imagine you are terminally ill, downsizing from house to apartment, or transitioning into a long-term care facility and you have personal possessions that you wish to distribute to family and friends. How do you decide who gets what and how do you...

Have you ever walked out of a medical appointment feeling like your provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant) didn’t really understand what you were trying to say? Unfortunately, it’s quite possible that they didn’t. And while I...

I was scheduled to have a fibroid removed at 8 am. I diligently arrived 20 minutes early, allowing time for parking, navigating, and COVID screening (There were only two people in line ahead of me because it was still early. When I left a couple...

One day, a daughter, in the throws of her mother’s new cancer diagnosis, called me on the verge of tears. She was given bad news that day. It appeared that her mom’s cancer had spread. “Can you just take over?” She had been diligently managing as...

During this covid 19 epidemic, we have all been challenged both personally and professionally. We have made major and often difficult adjustments, by staying and working from home and strictly following the guidelines of the cities in which we...

The Cares Act Provider Relief Fnd is intended to provide funding to medical providers for care related to COVID-19 for uninsured individuals. This funding will be given to providers with some exceptions. What Does This Mean For The Uninsured? The...

As we hunker down and isolate during an otherwise celebratory holiday, it’s the perfect time for Independent Patient Advocates to reflect on our own history. For many of us, it was a horrific personal healthcare experience that inspired...

I am a patient advocate but my clinical practice was spent in the operating room. I spent almost twenty years advocating for patients during surgery. Surgical intervention saves lives. No question. In fact, worldwide 1 in 25 people every year will...